Seven Bermuda charities and rest homes are enjoying the bounty of a successful experiment at sea.

They were given 200 pounds of tuna and swordfish courtesy of the Eagle Eye II.

The American fishing vessel is under contract with the Government to help Environment officials determine the economic viability of bringing longline fishing to Bermuda's waters on a permanent basis.

The most recent trip at sea netted between nine and ten thousand pounds of fish. The contract requires some of it to go to local fishermen while the remaining majority is the property of the Eagle Eye I> and its American crew.

The crew decided it would donate some of its harvest to Bermudian organisations including the Salvation Army Citadel, Lefroy House and the Packwood Home.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said: "I'm very pleased that many of our seniors benefited from the longline fishing initiative. I would like to thank the captain and crew of the Eagle Eye II who generously offered to give a portion of their catch to local charities and rest homes."