to defending the bans designed to protect fish. The previous Minister, the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, was constantly harassed by a very small number of people after she imposed the fish pot ban. Now the new minister, the Hon.

Gerald Simons, is being assailed for "mismanaging Bermuda's fishing industry''.

As nearly as we can tell, the limited bans designed to protect Bermuda's fish and shellfish proved to be wise and extremely beneficial to fish stocks. Some fishermen have strongly opposed the ban, notably Mr. Danny Farias of the Bermuda Industrial Union Fisheries Division, a Progressive Labour Party candidate for Devonshire South in the recent election. Mr. Farias has long been known as a noisy advocate of the right of fishermen to do as they please, and it might have been thought during the recent election that, in nominating him for Parliament, the PLP was opposing protection of the fish stocks.

It does seem clear that without steps to protect the fish, Bermuda was in danger of being fished out which would have meant the end of fishing and fishermen. The problem was in convincing fishermen that the pot ban and other controls, notably controls on fishing areas, were in their best interests just as they were in the best interests of Bermuda. Successive Ministers tried to do just that but were often unsuccessful, largely, we think, because they could not get the fishermen to listen.

Now Mr. Simons is under attack. It may be that being attacked by fishermen is simply somethimg which goes with the territory of being Environment Minister just as it went with the territory of being Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. We understand that fishermen are no different from anyone else and hardly anyone likes being told they cannot now do something they have been doing for most of their lives. However some things have to be done for the general public good.

We think the public was and is generally in favour of the protection of fish stocks. Hardly a summer day went by this year that someone did not tell a story of seeing more fish in the water than they could recall.

There is also another element. Bermuda has to live in the general behaviour framework set by other countries. It has to be a good neighbour and it cannot be a renegade and ignore the general pattern of conservation set to protect the world's seas. We don't think Bermudians want to defy accepted conventions set by such organisations as the World Wildlife Fund.

Protecting fish is only a small part of protecting Bermuda but it is a very important part. We think Bermudians want to behave reasonably and to protect Bermuda in a sensible fashion. Ministers will often be criticised when protection of Bermuda amounts to saying "don't'' to someone but that is a small price to pay for protecting Bermuda for the future.