Illegal fishing has spiked as families have been hit by Bermuda’s struggling economy, according to government’s head fisheries warden.

Fishermen are calling for better enforcement of the fishing laws — and the public are urged to act as witnesses — amid concerns the practice is putting their livelihoods at risk. John Edmunds, the head fisheries warden, told The Royal Gazette: “There has definitely been a noticeable increase in illegal fishing with the downturn in the economy. We have had a spike in spearfishing in the past couple of years.

“I don’t know if it’s people just trying to feed themselves or get some more money for their families. Wherever there is an economic incentive, people will do what they think they can get away with.”

In one incident earlier this month, a spear fisherman got away with killing 42 parrotfish, a species protected under the Fisheries Act, just off Cooper’s Island.

Scott Barnes, a commercial fisherman, said: “When these people catch and sell fish illegally it affects us.

“It affects the people who are supposed to be selling fish with licences — the commercial guys for sure. We pay an annual fee so we are able to sell fish.”

Mr Barnes said that Bermuda would benefit from a stronger policing presence on the water. There are five fisheries wardens employed to police illegal fishing in Bermuda. Mr Edmunds said that, while they do everything they can to prevent the offence taking place, the public can play a key role in helping them.

“The public are our eyes and ears,” he said.

“We like to get information that is timely — often I get a call from someone saying, ‘Last week I saw this or that.’ Well last week is no good to me. If you see something happening give us a call, we work seven days a week. If you have a camera take photos — anything from an evidentiary point of view — that can help us and it would be greatly appreciated.

“If you see someone doing something illegal it is probably better to either call us, the Police or Bermuda Radio [297-1010] — they are a great asset.”

Mr Edmunds said some “red flags” to look out for are people swimming close to the shore with a spear: it is illegal to spearfish within a mile of the shoreline unless the species being caught is a lionfish. He added: “There is still lots of illegal fishing outside of spearing — we are still finding illegal fish traps, like the old fish pots.

“We do have a programme going on now with legal traps for lionfish which is experimental. If you see anything near the shoreline, in the Great Sound or along North Shore or people pulling basketlike devices along the side of their boat, that is probably an illegal fish pot. We keep finding them in various areas around the Island — lobster pots are only allowed to be in the water from September 1 to March 31.”

Mr Edmunds said that the warden’s main line of attack was working on deterrents such as boarding boats and checking catch.

In 2011, legislation was amended to double the maximum fine for illegal fishing to $50,000. Mr Edmunds said that had helped the situation. He said: “We had a successful $10,000 fine a couple of years ago on the illegal harvesting of top shells and that had a huge effect.

“I was getting called out every two minutes with people illegally harvesting them, then we finally got a person and caught them red-handed with 500 something top shells. We have now noticed a substantial drop in illegal harvesting of top shells.”

Anyone witnessing illegal or suspicious activity should call the wardens at any time on 535-4615 or 705-3474.