THESE ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES:

• Certain junior members of Kwazulu Natal Parks Authority in Sodwana (South Africa) knowingly allow twelve SCUBA Dive Charter companies to operate illegally in the Sodwana Bay Marine reserve, against regulations. There are only two licensed operators.
  
• Illegal operators do not pay their dues through license fees and emoluments from the tender process, as a result the tribal community & Park's Authority lose revenues.
  
• The reefs of Sodwana are damaged from over exploitation. There is no case to allow further licenses.
  
• Diver safety is a real concern. I am informed clashes with unlicensed operators are frequent occurrences.
  
• If insurers find out that an insured was injured while diving with an illegal operator, they will most likely reject the insured's claims.
  
• It is irreprehensible that a conservation authority allows these people to defy the law.
  
• Tolerance by the KZN Parks Authority of illegal operators for whatever reason undermines South Africa's credibility & could start a campaign to boycott Sodwana as a dive site to protect it from over-exploitation, resulting in lost revenues to South African Tourism.
  
• Sodwana is World Heritage site. Wanton over commercialization is an unacceptable abuse of a national asset and use of an endorsement of The World Heritage Foundation.

Further Information:

If you would like further information on the circumstances leading to this petition, go to this web address
SAVE SODWANA . Please send this petition to other people you know. The opinions of tour operators, travel agents & clubs would be very useful, but every signature is a great help.

Number of voters as at 28th August 2006 - 0003