Government is continuing its feasibility study into longline fishing – despite proposals to restrict bag limits for amateur fishermen.

A spokesman for the Ministry of the Environment confirmed yesterday: "The longline feasibility study is ongoing."

He added: "Our total catch of pelagic species is regulated by ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) – commercial plus recreational."

Last year, Government hired the US long line vessel Eagle Eye II to make four trial expeditions to Bermuda's 200-mile exclusion zone. A spokesman said that the boat adhered to "conservation-oriented fishery research" in that it set weighted lines overnight, to keep bait away from seabirds, and used circle hooks to reduce the post-release mortality of protected or regulated species.

Eagle Eye II was granted a two-month licence to explore the viability of commercial longline fishing in Bermuda. It was also required to record all by-catch.

The Environment Ministry compiled the results of the trial last year, using "economic feasibility" as a yardstick, to see whether longlining would be in the country's best interests. In March, then Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said: "I'm very confident it's something we should look into. All indications are that this initial pilot programme has been very successful so far."

The research is ongoing, however, environmentalists around the world have claimed longline fishing is extremely harmful to wildlife and endangered species. The fishing lines, which are exceptionally long and filled with hooks, can trap other animals such as sea-turtles, a process known as by-catch.

Government's White Paper of June 2005 on 'The Marine Environment and the Fishing Industry in Bermuda' states: "There has been little development of a larger-scale industrial fishery in the outer regions of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Preliminary efforts have shown encouraging results with catches of swordfish and albacore tuna. Similarly, there is a history of significant catches of albacore by foreign longliners operating in Bermuda's waters.

"Despite these positive indications there has been no move to further exploit these resources. Failure to do so could prejudice the internationally agreed quotas already obtained by Bermuda and those which might be requested in the future."

Recommending a study into the fishery potential of Bermuda's waters for "local fishermen and entrepreneurs", the Paper states: "Should the findings prove favourable, Government will encourage pelagic longline fishing for tuna, swordfish and other species. International regulations and quotas may apply and these will be taken into consideration when deciding upon the total number of licences to be issued."

One amateur fisherman however, told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "In my opinion, longliners (whether domestic or foreign) are indiscriminate killers of our ocean resources.

"Kilometres of monofilament and hundreds of hooks drift offshore killing anything they come into contact with. In addition to harvesting thousands of pounds of tuna, swordfish and pelagic sharks, the process also kills turtles, billfish, manta rays and endangered sea birds as by-catch. No one is out there to witness or police it, so it continues."

The man, who did not wish to be named, said: "Since the current plan is experimental, it is considered acceptable which is absolute nonsense. Regardless of whether the project is economically viable or not, the annual catch of one longliner is more than that of the entire recreational fleet for probably ten years.

"With sustainability being the primary concern of the Department, one would think that they would look at this first rather than target the weekend rod and reel fisherman."

Recreational fishermen have this week criticised plans by the Department of Environmental Protection to limit catches to two fish per boat per day.

Some have claimed the restrictions could "kill the recreational fishery".

The Department is proposing the limits on wahoo, yellowfish tuna, blackfin tuna, bigeye tuna and albacore tuna.

A maximum of one bluefin tuna a day is also being recommended. Fishermen are being asked to send feedback to the Department by April 30, although Government says the consultation process will continue until the autumn.

Director of Environmental Protection Dr. Fred Ming says the bag limits are necessary to ensure the conservation of pelagic species for future generations.

In a letter to fishing clubs, Tammy Trott, Acting Senior Marine Resources Officer, says: "It is believed that recreational pelagic fish landings are quite substantial and are increasing."

She claims that when recreational catch is added to commercial takings, Bermuda's ICCAT quota is "almost certainly being exceeded".

A 'Discussion Paper on Recreational Bag Limits for Pelagic Species' to the Marine Resources Board says: "Bermuda is obliged to adhere to these quotas. Bermuda's commercial fishery catch, while under the total allowable catch (42 MT) in 2006, has exceeded this level in many previous years.

"When factoring in the recreational catch, we have certainly been well over this limit every year. "