UKOOA, Endangered species or the answer to a mermaids prayer?
Over the past ten years, it has been said with almost whimsical levity, 'today's environmental problems are tomorrow's business opportunities'.
Rarely in the history of technological advance has such a challenging and exciting opportunity presented itself to industry.
Surely, with the oil and gas industry's massive investment potential, political clout and market flexibility, the ball is firmly in its court. Not only to review and address the world's environmental problems, but also to identify what part they should profitably be playing to speed their solution.
To that end the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association should, (through a combination of self-interest, altruism, genuine concern, repositioning in the marketplace and good public relations), be prepared to embark on a programme of change.
This must include, not only the validation and updating of all criteria governing the management of sustainable practices in the marine environment, but the implementation of those practices as fast as possible.
We can only leave it up to the readers to judge how far this report contains those seeds of change.
David Bellamy
Environmental Report 1998 Index
