SYDNEY, Australia (22 Sep 2005) -- Australia is considering an annual licensing fee for scuba divers. The new plan follows criticism of an earlier government proposal to establish per dive fees for scuba diving in areas that need to be protected from human impact. Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the new license system would help protect the critically endangered grey nurse shark and would be simpler and fairer than requiring divers to pay a per dive fee. "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. | | Macdonald told reporters that dive industry representatives have expressed support for the new plan. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
