For many years, deep-sea lobster fishing has been the economic lifeline for over 2100 Miskito Indian divers in Honduras. In spite of the activity’s lurking dangers, more and more divers keep flocking the sea to try their luck in making a living. In 2011, the hazardousness of this undertaking prompted Dr. Elmer Mejia to equate the lobsters to the diamonds of blood that are responsible for numerous protracted civil wars in Africa (Malkin September 9, 2011). Some of them like Rolando Pita Gomez have been engaged in diving for over 25 years, long enough to know all its dangers, but they still cannot relent from engaging in it.
Additionally, the ever increasing demand for lobster food by industrialized countries such as the U.S. is amplifying the dangers the divers have to undergo. In particular, it has led to overfishing making the supply of lobsters scanty and hard to come across. Unlike before the 1980s when most lobsters could be hand-caught at a meager depth of less than 100 feet, over time the divers have had to sink deeper than 120 feet to get a handsome catch (Malkin September 9, 2011). Sadly, the deep sea pursuit has heightened the number of fatalities related to complications caused by high atmospheric pressures experienced at deep depths. Some of the most complications developed by the divers are decompression sickness, brain implosion, and paralysis. A few among those who develop these complications die each year.
The decision by Dr. Mejia to intervene by building a clinic where he treats the deep-sea patients is quite noble and it needs to be replicated by other well-wishers. Even though medical intervention is a good gesture, it is not sufficient to solve the plight facing the entire Miskito Indian community. More needs to be done to ensure that the fishing of lobsters is made safe, or it is stopped entirely. For instance, the problem which pushes the divers to engage in the diving business should be identified to help establish a long lasting remedy. Other ethical and global issues which surround the trade should also be identified and be resolved precisely. In this review, the author will try to delve into five key topics which are central to this lobster business in Honduras.
Problem facing the Honduras
The main problem facing the Honduras people is the chronic poverty facing them. Honduras is already one of the poorest countries in the world. Consequently, it lacks sufficient resources to provide for its entire citizenry. Usually, access to basic facilities such as formal education and healthcare is very limited in poor countries. Seemingly, Honduras suffers a similar predicament where it has inadequate supply of basic healthcare facilities. That is the reason why Dr. Mejia opened his clinic in La Ceiba to try to lessen the inadequacy of formal healthcare centers. However, even after the establishment of Mejia’s clinic, the problem of poverty still seems to stifle healthcare provision. Most injured divers usually do not have enough money to pay for services in the clinic; hence, they have to depend on payments made by fishing boat owners. Other boat owners are reluctant carry sick divers back to the shore to avoid making losses.
Lack of formal education has also amplified the problem of lobster fishing. The villages inhabited by the communities involved in deep-sea fishing are very inaccessible. Most of them are only reachable via air or water transport. As a result, there are very few formal schools in the surrounding areas where young children can obtain formal education. Due to lack of schooling, young children have ample time to do other less important activities such as fishing. Moreover, as generations grow, they have no formal education to help them diversify their talents or skills. Eventually, once the children get elderly they realize that there is nothing important to do that can sustain them. Therefore, they perceive lobster catching as the only activity they can perform efficiently using their minimal skills.
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