Under it, they can get jobs on seven Canadian boats licensed to fish in Bermuda territorial waters.

The landmark agreement was announced by Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons yesterday.

Sen. Simons said the longline Canadian fishing vessels would work out of Bermuda.

Each had agreed to employ two Bermudians per boat to act as crew.

Said Sen. Simons: "Unlike previous years when the majority of the licences were for Taiwanese, this year seven of the ten foreign licences issued will go to Canadian vessels.

"The obvious advantage of licensing these vessels is the agreement to employ two Bermudians per vessel to act as crew and allow Bermudians a rare chance of gaining experience and knowledge of a high seas fishery.'' Sen. Simons said the deal would provide a chance to get more information about fish stocks.

The catches would be exported from Bermuda, giving extra work to Bermudians, especially truckers.

The Canadians had also offered to buy yellowfin tuna local fishermen were unable to sell in Bermuda.

Sen. Simons stressed licences granted to foreign vessels did not allow the sale of fish in Bermuda.

Foreign vessels must fish no closer than 75 miles from shore to stop them interfering with Bermudian fishermen.

Each year Government grants 10 licences to foreign vessels to let them use longlines within Bermuda's 200-mile exclusive fishing zone.

Foreign boats must keep logs of their catch, and have a local agent.