There should be tight restrictions on water exports from the Great Lakes, a panel of U.S. and Canadian experts recommended Wednesday.

The International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes released its final report on Wednesday. It says Canada and the U.S. should not permit any bulk exports of water unless there is proof it won't harm the Great Lakes' ecosystem.

A good blueprint

"We think we've developed a good blueprint for the governments to follow as to how to protect the system and protect the eco-system of the Great Lakes," said Tom Baldini, the American co-chair of the commission.

The commission says shipments of bottled water could be allowed.

The federal government says it's happy with the report's findings. Ottawa has already introduced legislation to prohibit bulk water exports and it working on a similar agreement with the provinces.

"It focuses in on the most important issue which is that the water in the Great Lakes and the St-Lawrence, other border waters must be protected against any kind of bulk removal," said Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy.

'They've failed Canadians'

But opponents of bulk water shipments say the report doesn't go far enough.

"We're very disappointed to see that they haven't moved in the right direction. We feel that they've failed Canadians," said Jamie Dun, with the Council of Canadians.

Dunn said the commission should have recommended water exports be banned altogether. He says that even with the report's recommendations, Canada may end up forced to allow bulk water exports because of provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Axworthy and the International Joint Commission say trade law does not interfere with the U.S. and Canada's rights to protect the Great Lakes.