Six types of fish are set to be added to the list of protected species, a Government spokesman said last night.

The size limits for another six species are likely to be increased to protect future stocks.

And it is proposed to tell sports fishermen to cut down on their catches of the silk snapper.

Also affected are the bluefin and swordfish, under new rules from the International Commission on Atlantic Tuna.

The legal catch size for the bluefin tuna will go up from 14 to 66 pounds, while swordfish will now have to be a minimum of 55 pounds to be a legal catch.

The moves came as the Government asked for comments from commercial and sports fishermen on proposals to change fishing regulations.

Ministers want the Bermuda fishing area to be recognised under the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention.

That means changing the current exclusive fishing zone into an exclusive economic zone.

The area covered would remain the same, but extra powers, over sub-sea mining for example, would be gained.

Signing up with the UN scheme would also mean the abolition of imprisonment for foreign fishermen who commit fishing offences in Bermuda's waters -- but fines would be increased considerably.

Sports fishermen are now likely to be restricted to a bag of 20 silk snappers, although commercial catches will remain unaffected.

A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks said that new rules were needed to protect the grouper group.

He said: "Most of the grouper species are not showing much in the way of a recovery.

"Truth to tell, they can be considered commercially extinct since catches are incidental.'' The fish proposed as additions to the protected species list are, the Nassau grouper, the red grouper, the mutton hamlet, the red rockfish, the gag grouper (finescale) and the tiger rockfish.

The spokesman added: "It is felt that this will not intrude unduly on commercial fishermen since the combined catches of finescale grouper, Nassau grouper and red rockfish in 1994 was only 693 pounds.'' Fork length size limits (from lower jaw to tail fork) for the black rockfish, the monkey rockfish, red hind, hogfish yellowtail snapper and silk snapper are also likely to be increased, from ten inches for the silk snapper to 30 inches for the black rockfish.

The Fisheries Division spokesman added that the permitted catch for the black rockfish and monkey rockfish is set to be reduced from the current two a day of each to one a day. He said the size limits were produced after comments from both recreational and professional fishermen.

And he invited comments and suggestions from fishermen and other interested parties.

These should be sent to the Division of Fisheries at Coney Island, to arrive by November 24.