I saw this on the AOL news service this morning. Thought it might be of interest: Australia to End Commercial Coral Harvest on Reef Reuters Jun 14 2001 2:40AM CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is to phase out commercial coral harvesting on the Great Barrier Reef in a bid to protect the world's largest living reef formation. While it is prohibited for tourists or private individuals to take coral from the reef, there are currently 36 operators with licenses to harvest 200 tons of coral a year from 50 authorized areas. Most of the harvested coral is used in private aquariums. But Environment Minister Robert Hill said he wanted to outlaw the practice which allows licensed scuba divers to chip coral away from the reef using hammers, chisels and metal bars. "The minister believes this commercial practice is not compatible with the conservation of the reef for which the Great Barrier Reef is listed under the World Heritage Convention," a spokeswoman for Hill told Reuters on Thursday. Hill said he would discuss a phase out plan with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to try to limit the economic impact of the current operators. No timetable has been set. His spokeswoman said last year licensed operators harvested 50 tons of coral from the reef of which 25 tons was live. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest living reef formation stretching 2,000 km (1,300 miles) north to south along Australia's northeast coast. Under current laws anyone caught taking coral from the reef faces a maximum fine of A$22,000 (US$11,000) and any corporation A$110,000. The producers of U.S. reality television show "Survivor" issued a public apology in April after two cast members took coral from the reef as souvenirs during filming.