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

In addition to the bycatch the Department of Environmental Protection is also examining other ways of harvesting the invasive fish on a year-round basis.

The findings have been released today in a 15-year plan for managing Bermuda’s fisheries, entitled: ‘A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Bermuda’s Living Marine Resources’.

It also recommends “promoting the harvest and consumption of lionfish locally” by holding workshops in safe handling for commercial fishermen and food service employees.

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 (ICCAT) quotas will only support two longline vessels.

See tomorrow’s Royal Gazette for the full story.