Catches of large-scale cyanide operations average around 2500 kg per trip. A regular medium-scale dive operation catches around 20 kg of live groupers per trip. Small-scale operations average 1 kg per trip. The profits and incomes are higher than in any type of conventional fishery. Even if fishermen have other options to make a living at sea, in many cases they deliberately choose this lucrative practice.
Cyanide fishing is also a profitable enterprise for investors and boat owners.
100 million Rp. The marine police and navy, together with the fisheries service, are responsible for law enforcement. Profit margins in the cyanide fisheries and live reef fish trade are large enough, however, to allow for very large bribes. Corruption therefore makes the eradication of this illegal and destructive fishing method extremely difficult. Very few cases of cyanide fishing are brought to court, and usually the offenders are released after payment of a 'fine'.