A call to save troubled oceans
Philadelphia Inquirer
Wed 21 Apr 2004
Page: A4
Byline: By Maggie Fox

Pollution, overfishing and poor management have put North America's oceans in serious peril, but it is not too late to save them, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy said yesterday.

The panel recommended setting up a special office at the White House to oversee a new, coordinated policy, doubling investment in scientific research and strengthening the ability of the government to police polluters and fisheries.

"We can do a much better job of protecting fish populations, for example, by limiting catch levels based on science, and safeguarding fish nursery areas and vulnerable sea bottom habitats from harmful fishing practices like bottom trawling," said Daniel Pauly, director of the UBC Fisheries Centre.