SCUBA Diving News

THE NSW government is considering establishing an annual licence for scuba divers similar to that required by fishermen. The Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the scheme would involve the creation of an independent scuba diving trust, made up of industry members, who would allocate licence costs to programs to improve amenities for divers.

The trust also could invest funds towards programs to protect the habitat areas of the critically endangered grey nurse shark.

"The state government was previously considering introducing a fee to dive in these areas but the licence system will be simpler and fairer – instead of paying a fee for each dive in the habitat sites, divers will now have an annual fee," Mr Macdonald said.

He said he had recently met senior diving industry representatives, who expressed support for the proposal.

More info: http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16687386%255E1702,00.html

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# posted by SCUBA News @ 8:20 AM