30 May 2010 - By Chris Harris. Scientists don’t always get good press; they are sometimes ignored, sometimes misunderstood, even sneered at as “ just boffins, egg heads,” etc.
But the time is coming fast when we have to start getting serious and listening to what we are being told. And more importantly, acting on it. To fail to listen would be a failure of our personal responsibilities as members of the world community, and for our politicians to fail to act would be a dereliction of their duty.
Fishing in southern Belize
The politicians have a responsibility to act on the best possible advice they get from those who study, measure, monitor, record and report what happens around us.
It is not, however, the job of scientists to tell us or our government what to do, or what actions to take, or policies to follow. The assessment of scientific reports is the job of our government.
However, now and again a subject arises where even the layman, be he a farmer, an office worker, a policeman, or a hotel receptionist, can make judgments for him or herself. The sustainability of our marine environment and the fish we eat is one such subject.
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