Competition is another frightening facet of reality for the poor fisherman. The larger fishing companies simply dwarf the smaller fishermen. Large shipping boats with their enormous harvesting nets push out the smaller boats. A large part of the produce goes to these huge ships. Not much is left to the locals.

The local fisherman is decades behind modern technology. Because of poverty and lack of resources, there are still those who rely on old canoes or small diesel-powered boats. Although most of them go out to sea in groups, they still do not have any chance of competing for space and supply when the bigger ships arrive.

With regards to the environment, the destruction of marine life and aquatic resources (e.g. dynamite fishing) have a direct impact on the local fishing industry. Dead fish do not necessarily count as produce and is considered illegal by the government.

Add to all of this are the seeds of corruption that grow in the government. Sometimes, fishermen, like many other people living in poverty or hardship, are abused by those in power. Unjust wages, price-fixing, and monopolies all contribute to the harsh treatment these people receive.

All of this scenario centers around the fisherman. After all, he is the core - the heartbeat of the industry. In the end, he is the one that ultimately hauls the fish from the sea and onto the land. He plays an important role in the life of the country. The fisherman feeds the nation.

It's the fishermen who need empowerment. Empower him with vital knowledge about his work, technologies to improve his trade, and a sense of importance, and he in turn will progress a native industry. It will lead him to a better harvest along one of the longest shorelines in the world.

• Dynamite Fishing: A method wherein fishermen toss sticks of dynamite into the water. The fish killed in the explosion float to the surface, thus becoming easy pickings. But this method destroys coral reefs. Without this important part of the underwater ecosystem, the growth and development of marine life would be affected in a number of ways and valuable fish could disappear.

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