Save Our Marine Life (Australia)

I was glad to see Sandra Bullock win for Blindside.

Awesome! Great work

Thanks Dave. Oopps! I have an email from you I'd better reply to.... Good luck on your new adventure. D @ SOML

Cool Cherie. Sounds great. Will do. David @SOML

:) Thanks David

why is everything so f***ing politically correct...we are all afraid of whether wat we say or do will insult some1 instead for fighting for wat is right. Aussies used 2 be known as a strong people,united for great causes and this government is just weak as piss, and Kevin Rudd needs a good kick up his ass 2 get him out of his arrogant air into the real world.

I had the federal police questioning me about an email I sent to the Japanese Consulate asking them to justify why they rammed the ady gil - I'm a middle aged mum who loves whales and all our government can do is hassle people like me. ITS WRONG

It's more than 'just my opinion'. As to your appeal to authority argument, marine ecologists have a rather different view of the World and yes a lot of them have crossed the line from science to advocacy on this issue. Note that a lot of them are government funded or funded by conservation groups. As to fisheries biologists there has been ... See Moreconsiderable disquiet amongst them regarding the marine park mania. Have a look at Prof Colin Buxton's review of marine parks in Tasmania for example.

I'm surprised you offer the GBR marine park as an example of success. The GBRMPA has sitting in it's library far more extensive studies of reserves over many years which in most cases show no statistically significant difference in fish no's between green zones and open areas. Not surprising since the GBR is fished at a level 100 times less that what is regarded as sustainable for coral reefs (the phrase 'cherry picking' comes to mind).

The GBRMP has been a socio-economic disaster with the Federal Gov. having to pay out $300m in compensation to shore based businesses, and that's only part of the cost. Eg add the multi- million dollar budget of the out of control GBRMPA!

Another point on the socio-economic effct of marine parks. I suggest you have a look a the the socio- economic report done by Earnst and Young on marine parks in NSW. They predict anglers will half their visits to coastal towns hosting marine parks costing them 100's of millions in their tourist dollars. These are real dollars too and not your 'non-market' value!

Where DO you go after that Phil?

On overfishing or overmanagement, people can only guess. Some RL fishers say its overfishing. Some say its climate change affecting the Leeuwin Current. The fact is that no one knows because there are no scientific reference areas (otherwise known as marine sanctuaries) to compare with the fished areas. David @SOML

You don't need large marine reserves to have scientific reference areas for rock lobster. In any case marine reserve data must be treated with care. Often reserves are put in place in highly productive areas which will distort the data. Fishing effort tends to be displaced which will exaggerate any reserve effect. Also a fishery can be evaluated without so called reference areas, eg size and age structure, surveys, looking at catch per unit effort to name a few.

Cool toy Kat! Makes an ordinary video very watchable :-)

Ahhhh! I can't believe it. I posted this message at lunch when there were 2,969 of us - now its just past dinner and not only did we reach 3000, but we've busted thru to 3,040 of us saving our marine life. That's just so awesome. We rock! Welcome aboard you 71 new SOMLers, and thanks and cheers. David @SOML

Fiona, the cinematic release around the country is due in May, so that will include Melbourne theatres. The only way it might happen sooner is if a local group can organise a community screening. If you know of someone who wants to do that we can put you in touch with the distributers... From our experience with the 20 or so shows we've already put on, its a fair bit of work but well worth it... Cheers, David @SOML

W.A has some of the best diving in OZ :) especially ningaloo reef and off--- dunsborough sweet !