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Part 2 of the recommendations is odd. As mentioned above the MOD have no more or less responsibility for conservation than the other organisations on the island. All take part in the cat control programme which moves from one area to another of the island in rotation.
The MOD personnel are not the main spear fishers on the island, it is rare for them to do this. We have had some advice from the Fisheries Officer on St Helena about the conservation of crayfish stocks.
These are not fished commercially on Ascension and there have been conflicting reports on the effect of sporting operations. The number of spear fishers is relatively small and much of the coastline inaccessible to divers. Restrictive legislation without the benefit of qualified observations might be ineffective and enforcement would be difficult.
Rubbish disposal is an island wide problem, not just the concern of MOD. At present non domestic refuse is dumped in an old quarry and in order to discourage rats and cockroaches domestic refuse goes into the sea. We will shortly be considering how best to incinerate this but because of the relatively small quantities it may be difficult to find a suitable incinerator.
With regard to the general recommendations on pages 61 and 62 of the report we should like to benefit from any advice on conservation matters which may be available. It is evident from the list of references at the end of the Ascension section that a number of experts have been here or written about our conservation problems. It would have been helpful if they could have sent us copies of their reports. I should be grateful if you would let me have copies of the publications which I have sidelined in the attached list.
Encl.
cc
Mr F E Baker CBE
Governor & Commander-in-Chief
St Helena
E Mattey Esq
WIAD
FCO
yours sincerely
M. 4. Blick.
(MT BLICK)
Administrator