Take them to the courts (forget about regulations)

The Guardian runs a story (found via The Commons Blog) about the Anglers' Conservation Association in Britain ("fighting pollution & protecting anglers' interests since 1948," their website says). The ACA takes those who pollute or otherwise harm rivers to the courts. They claim monetary losses to anglers (diminution of capital value, and loss of angling amenity and enjoyment value) and then use the money collected from damages to preserve the rivers and their fish. The Guardian compares the ACA with the governmental Environment Agency, which seeks criminal charges and only manages to get meager fines from polluters. The ACA is even suing the Agency for doing the government thing -- useless and harmful public works in a river.