Environment Minister Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams said yesterday.

And Mr. Williams said if fish stocks have increased over the five-year ban period the ban should be lifted altogether.

"We need a real insight into how effective the fishpot ban has been and if it needs to be continued,'' said Mr. Williams.

He added the Island's fishing industry had suffered badly since the ban was introduced more than five years ago.

Now he wants the Government to take specialist scientific advice on fish stocks and, if appropriate, give the fishing industry a shot in the arm by allowing fishpots to be used again.

Mr. Williams said: "The ban may have served its purpose. On the other hand, it may have to continue -- I don't know. But we should be looking at it.'' He added that the original ban was a necessity because of over-fishing and the use of very large fishpots.

He said: "There were a lot of people doing unscrupulous things. Some of these fishpots were almost the size of houses and they should never have been allowed.

"If the ban is lifted there should be tight controls, but if a fisherman has a reasonable size of pot there should be no problems.

"The Fisheries Department should also be beefed up so officials can carry out spot checks. They lack staff and boats at the moment.'' Mr. Williams said that a thriving industry would not only create employment for Bermudians, it would help the economy by cutting the massive $3.5 million spent importing fish into the Island every year.

And he pointed out that Island fisherman pay around 51 cents in the dollar in tax for fuel, while foreign boats fishing the seas around Bermuda can buy fuel tax-free.

He added that Marginal Wharf in St. George's could be used to land, clean and prepare their fish for sale. The wharf has the added advantage of being close to the Airport for the lucrative export market.

Mr. Williams said: "The industry needs more assistance from the policy makers, but I wonder if the will is there. There are a number of Bermudians who are not academic, but who could work with their hands. A flourishing fishing industry would provide productive work for a lot of people.

"I am told there are people who want to open a cannery to pack fish for the export market which would provide a lot of jobs.

"We have got to look to protect the Island and the Bermudian people, plus look at ways of creating employment. A strong fishing industry is one way of doing that.'' Neither Department of Agriculture & Fisheries director John Barnes or Environment Minister Tim Smith could be contacted for comment last night.