Amateur fishermen have criticised plans to limit catches to two fish per boat per day as "unnecessary" and say it will frustrate popular tournaments.

The Department of Environmental Protection is proposing the restrictions on wahoo, yellowfish tuna, blackfin tuna, bigeye tuna and albacore tuna. A limit of one bluefin tuna a day is also being recommended, in a letter to the Island's fishing clubs.

Government is asking for feedback on the proposals by April 30, but says the consultation process will continue until the Fall.

The proposals however, have already made waves. Some fishermen have even warned the catch limits could "kill the recreational fishery and have a costly impact on the Government revenue and local business".

Yesterday, amateur angler Jonathan Reiss, of Paget, said: "I support some limits for recreational fishermen but feel the proposals are too drastic.

"I think that to only take two fish is unreasonable for a boat going out, particularly with fuel costs. I feel it should be two fish per person.

"I'm a recreational fisherman and I have fished here extensively for the past 30 years. I feel this is not about the protection of marine resources but more about the protection of jobs for professional fishermen and their income.

"Commercial longline fishermen, such as the Japanese and other nationalities, have virtually decimated the population of tuna in the Atlantic, so the impact of some boats around Bermuda with a few rods and reels is really minimal. And wahoo don't need a bag limit protection as there are so many of them out there.

"I think everyone needs to do their bit, but no one is talking about putting limits on longline boats."

Another fisherman, who did not wish to be named, said: "The Department of the Environment wants a limit of one bluefin tuna per day but it is so rare, I am only aware of commercial fishermen catching a couple of these in the last ten years. Also, wahoo tend to be solitary so it's very hard to make a dent in their population, as they don't swim in large schools.

"I think most people are pretty reasonable about what they catch, so I don't think these quotas are reasonable, I think they are unnecessary. Most countries don't have any bag limits".

Leroy Douglas, a past-president of the Blue Water Anglers Club, said: "I know Government has to take some measures for preservation purposes, but I'm not so sure it's going to be in the interests of people like us who spend $1,500 a day to go game fishing.

"The regulations will have an impact on our ability to conduct tournaments. When we hire a boat, if there's four people and the first guy then catches the fish, it doesn't really make it worthwhile."

John Barnes is a former Director of Agriculture and Fisheries who represented Bermuda and the UK on ICCAT (the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas). Mr. Barnes, who pens the Mid-Ocean News' fishing column, said the bag limits were initially proposed in Government's Green Paper on the fishing industry a few years ago.

"Properly implemented it is a good thing," said Mr. Barnes. "But it will have to have legislative authority behind it and have some force, as self-regulation is not going to work."

Director of Environmental Protection, Dr. Fred Ming, has told The Royal Gazette that Government would have to rely on fishermen's honesty in limiting their catch. He says the bag limits are necessary to ensure "a healthy stock" and the conservation of pelagic species for future generations.

In a letter to the fishing clubs, Tammy Trott, Acting Senior Marine Resources Officer, said that when recreational catch was added to commercial takings, the Island's ICCAT quota was "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. At an ICCAT conference in October 2007, there was much discussion on the declining catches of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the Atlantic and member countries were urged to enforce current TACs."

Ms Trott said: "It is believed that recreational pelagic fish landings are quite substantial and are increasing."

A Government spokesman said yesterday: "This is just a Discussion Paper and nothing has been finalised. There are going to be community meetings and all the fishermen can come out and have their say. We would also encourage them to write to the Department with their views and concerns."