Call to protect shark-filled sea

The Coral Sea is one of few places home to hammerhead sharks

Conservationists are urging the Australian government to protect the Coral Sea, one of its last tropical marine wildernesses.

The sea was recently declared a "predator diversity hotspot" because of its abundant shark populations.

Campaigners fear the region could be targeted by illegal shark fishermen as well as oil and gas prospectors.

The Coral Sea comprises 780,000sq km, and borders the Great Barrier Reef off of Australia's east coast.

Environmental groups have described the Coral Sea as a stunning blue water highway full of oceanic predators.

The area is a haven for hammerhead and white-tipped sharks, as well as manta rays.

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The problem with press releases like this is that they tell the fishermen were to go.

They can't stop shark finning on the GBR:

http://news.mongabay.com/2006/1204-shark.html

So what chance have they got in the remote Coral Sea.

Alex

Our current government has an appalling environmental record. The only hope of them doing something is the thought that it might help them get elected at the end of this year. If they don't get elected (quite likely based on the current opinion polls), Peter Garrett (ex-Midnight Oil) will be our new Environment Minister. Perhaps he'll do something to save the Coral Sea.

Of course, if it does get protected, enforcing the protection is going to be a major challenge.

I put this forward without my usual "dose of reality"....knowing full well that reality was far more bleak Another day in the trenches I suppose.