Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition against thebans!

Hi all

The South African government want to ban all forms of diving (scuba,
spearfishing, free diving and snokelling) in certain areas because the
government has been unable to stop the poaching of wild abalone.

The problem is that this measure will not make a difference to
poaching! It will only punish the law abiding, tax paying citizens for
the crimes of the poachers.

There is no point in making new laws if exsisting laws are not
enforced. Some of the ineffective measures to try and stop poaching in
the past which has also impinged on the rights of recreational divers
was banning night diving, requiring scuba divers to buy permits,
demarcating large areas as Marine Protected Areas, closing the
recreational abalone fishery, and shortening the recreational rock
lobster fishery. None of the these measures made a real difference.

Government used to have some effective measures but they just can't
leave a good thing alone. They cancelled Operation Neptune and they
disbanded the Overstrand Marines which were excellent anti-poaching
units. They also abolished the Green Courts which had a 85% conviction
ratio for environmental crimes.

Please help us to fight off these bans and to compel government to
take effective measures against poaching like involving the army and
the navy in marine law enforcement like they used to do many years
ago.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/420829084

Thanks very much!

Regards
Monty Guest
Chairman, Underwater Africa
"The voice of the diver"
Underwater Africa - Legislation affecting recreational scuba divers