Lionfish could soon be appearing on a menu near you.

Bermudians may also be adding the tasty tiger-striped species to the rockfish and wahoo on their grills as Government encourages a year-round fishery.

A report into managing the Island's marine bounty released yesterday recommends "promoting the harvest and consumption of lionfish locally".

The invasive species is gobbling up fish stocks throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean. Its venomous spines mean it has no natural predators.

The Pacific lionfish was first officially observed in Bermuda in 2000 and is thought to have come from the US East Coast as larvae, or as juveniles with floating Sargassum weed.

Although sightings are few compared to some Caribbean islands, such as the Bahamas, Government's Marine Resources Section has recognised the invasive species could be a growing problem in years to come.

More than 300 lionfish were reported as bycatch during the 2009/10 lobster season.

A strategy for dealing with it has now been included in the Department of Environmental Protection's 15-year plan for managing our fisheries.

'A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Bermuda's Living Marine Resources' notes that some chefs have already expressed an interest in adding lionfish to their restaurant menus.

It states: "The current capture rates and the existence of a potential market, along with the likelihood that the lionfish population in Bermuda will continue to grow and impact populations of native species, suggest that initiating a commercial fishery for this species would be a positive development."

Government is therefore exploring legislation to enable lionfish trapped in lobster pots to be sold on the open market.

The report also recommends finding other ways of catching it, "to determine whether a year-round fishery is feasible".

This would however require safe practices for handling and preparing the fish, due to its venomous spines. Workshops would therefore be held for "commercial fishermen and food service employees".

"It will be recommended that any lionfish sold for consumption at home be prepared appropriately by the vendor," adds the report. Increasing local seafood production through aquaculture is another recommendation.

The report notes that 75 percent of seafood consumed in Bermuda is imported, as "local fishing efforts cannot supply the local demand".

Government is currently examining "a policy on seabed appropriation for commercial projects such as aquaculture, ocean energy and mining".

Aquaculture is the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms. The Department of Environmental Protection suggests conch, slipper lobster, baitfish (fry), yellowtail snapper, hogfish and mullet, could be among the species cultivated.

The report states a study into the feasibility of longline fishing is still ongoing. However, it suggests current International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna quotas will only support two longline vessels.

If approved, local longline permits would "require best practices aimed at minimising bycatch".

Once the study is completed, Government has pledged it will invite feedback from stakeholders, "to resolve concerns about bycatch".

It is currently exploring the feasibility of "four small longline vessels". Initial research in the Exclusive Economic Zone has indicated swordfish and albacore tuna would be the main catch.

The report also states the Fisheries Act will be replaced by a new Marine Resources Act later this year. This will include recent amendments plus recreational fishing activities, marine protected areas and zoning, collecting, marine tours and importation of marine products.

Government is also considering a ticketing scheme for some offences, to reduce the workload for its fisheries wardens.

It is now inviting feedback on the fishing strategy, available at: www.gov.bm

Senior Marine Resources Officer Tammy Trott said: "The goal is to provide a blueprint for managing Bermuda's marine resources over the next 15 years, so as to encourage a sustainable and economically-viable fishing industry, promote healthy marine ecosystems, and ensure that the interests of all those who have a stake in the marine environment are also represented."

Staff from the Marine Resources Section will have a booth at the Annual Exhibition this week to answer questions.