In John’s mind, the government appeared to confuse the utilization of marine protected areas as a fisheries management tool, within already healthy and sustainable coastal and estuarine fisheries. Furthermore, in its zeal to push its politically green agenda, the Victorian government invoked a clause in the state constitution to remove the common law right of commercial fishermen to any form of compensation as a result of the establishment of the Marine Park and Sanctuary zones – this was considered heinous throughout the community and NOT at all consistent with an Ecologically Sustainable Development framework where environment, social and economic values are considered alongside sustainable use for conservation.

John had taken every manner of recourse provided, including face-to-face meetings with the responsible minister, but all to no avail. As a former commercial fisherman and charter boat operator, John was moved by the inability of normal government processes to provide access to negotiation and he was forced to resort to tactics he would otherwise never have dreamed of undertaking.

John’s plan was to galvanize the support of recreational and commercial fishermen and mount a campaign to march on the streets of Melbourne, in support of science, sustainable use and the need for public participation in the management of marine resources and their habitats. The union of these formerly polarized factions generated an incredible energy, which spread throughout the nation and overseas to New Zealand. John’s effort to unite these stakeholders exposed the inadequacies of the government’s flawed management regime. His efforts helped to overturn the protectionist dogma of a state government through political advocacy and by ensuring that the public stakeholders voice for conservation values and social justice prevailed. His actions also changed a management that had seen extensive poaching activities in an ineffective, yet long-established marine national park, which had formerly decimated several conservation values.

John’s efforts have opened the door to addressing the greater issues of marine exotic pest infestation, sewage impacts and coastal land degradation. He has orchestrated media events and displayed incredible passion for conservation, which has fostered public concern for the environment and focused attention on issues that he believed were being overlooked. Governments often resort to protection and regulation, to avoid allocating financial resources to tackle the most pressing conservation problems.

John’s effort is a good example of what can be achieved if the will to make a difference, the energies of groups are harnessed for the benefit of the environment, and the knowledge of good science are applied in a productive manner. He also learned to apply the emotional tactics used by the green international protection organizations to change public sentiment, and to address the greatest potential stumbling block in any public debate, politics!