You bring out a good point.  It's all a matter of perspective.  From your
point of view what's done in Australia and probably the US looks pretty
good.  From my perspective (and perhaps Viv's), whether it's protection of
fisheries or coral reefs, what's being done is barely keeping our heads
above water (just to keep things SCUBA related).  Much more will need to be
done in the future to protect ocean resources.  The worst part is, as those
resources (e.g., vibrant coral reefs) dwindle, their use and abuse increase
as divers/fishers congregate at the few remaining hot spots.

At 03:10 AM 8/31/00 +0100, you wrote:
>IMO,  Australia  has  very well implemented fishery policies, top
>research  and  promotes a highly rational use of marine renewable
>resources.  I  do  not  know whether they have "volumes" of laws,
>probably they do as any other western country does. However, they
>take  very  well  care  of their stocks as far as fishery science
>allows  them  to, fight off pirate fishing, have fishery officers
>all  around  their  very  large  territory  and educate their own
>people on the reasons why "things are so".
>
>Australia  is  **light  years  ahead**  of  the European Union in
>ecological matters. My opinion.
>
>Cheers,
>
>        aldo
>
>[log in to unmask]
>www.ccbb.ulpgc.es/fish-ecology/solaris
>___
>
>PD:  I am afraid I do not understand your language when you write
>"nice  attempt at sucking up to the Aussies though".
>
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
>MB> a handful (or even volumes) of  fishing regulations don't necessarily mean
>MB> that a country is progressive in its natural resource stewardship.
>
>MB> BTW, Aldo, nice attempt at sucking up to the Aussies though.  :-)
>
> >> >
> >> >KK> Maximum  size  limit of 80cm - to help protect large spawning
> >> >KK> females over 7 kg.
> >>
> >>You dont have to be a rocket scientist to realise that serious changes have
> >>to be done, at both commercial & recreational levels, to ensure the fishing
> >>industry & the community could rely on long term sustainability of fish
> >>stocks for future generations.
> >>
> >>We've had pirate fishing activities, a boom in aquaculture, problems with
> >>coastal developments, pests & diseases, demand for a higher standard of
> >>seafood quality, etc.
> >>
> >>Not everyone is happy with the restrictions - bag limits, size limits, bans
> >>during breeding seasons, net size limits, lobster pot restrictions, buy-
> >>back schemes, etc.
> >>
> >>A good example of where they shut the door way, way too late here in Perth
> >>concerns our local abalone stocks. We have only had one open day (in the
> >>last 2 years) for collecting abalone. There was a size limit, a bag limit &
> >>collecting on scuba was banned. This has come about because a certain race
> >>of people would take all their children & parents down to the beach to
> >>collect, mostly undersized too .. and when caught by the Rangers pretend
> >>they cant speak english even though we have signs all over the beaches in
> >>every language. Not long ago a car was pulled over for a broken light & the
> >>cop was amazed to see the couple were soaking wet. At 3am in the morning he
> >>thought that was pretty unusual so he searched their car & found a boot
> >>load of abalone that obviously was going to be sold on the black market.
> >>
> >>Our fines for taking any seafood out of season, undersized, carrying eggs
> >>(lobster) or in excess of the daily bag limit have rocketed up to the
> >>1,000s of $. Nice thing about this is the fine is multiplied by how many
> >>items were collected illegally. If it is a commercial operation they could
> >>also lose their fishing licence (which usually is in the millions), all
> >>their stock (even the catch caught legitimately that day) .. and if they
> >>have misbehaved previously could also forfeit their boat. I have no
> >>sympathy for these people who think they can rape & pillage the ocean for
> >>their own benefit leaving nothing for the next generation.