Dr. Brian Luckhurst, senior fisheries officer for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said he will reveal estimates during an upcoming lecture that show progress was being made for some aquatic species.

For the last five years, Dr. Luckhurst said he has been doing an assessment research programme to determine the effect of the 1990 pot ban.

He said he has been conducting a dive study to examine the number of species, in certain research sites, in local waters.

"I look at the number of species in an imaginary cylinder which extends from the sea floor to the surface,'' Dr. Luckhurst explained. "We then utilise the data to come up with statistically reliable data.'' He said the Island's dominant ecological group, the parrot fish, was most effected by the fish pots.

"We have seen significant increases in the estimates of most of the principal parrot fish species,'' Dr. Luckhurst said. "The ban removed the main source of mortality for fish (traps). Now we have to see how they respond to the removal of the variable.'' He added that some of the results of his study, as well as the need to measure management assessments, will be presented during his forthcoming lecture at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research next week.

"You can't say the measure was successful if you don't keep track.'' Dr. Luckhurst said he will also be discussing the work his department has been doing since the fish pot ban which includes examining the reproduction and growth of popular local fish like snappers and groupers.

"The ultimate goal is sustainable production,'' he said. "To see if we can removed a certain amount of fish for the economic benefit of Bermuda.'' Dr. Luckhurst said if his department learned enough about the fish that was being harvested, they could set up a system that allowed for a sustainable harvest.

And he said he hope participants in the lectures will a better understanding of the work that his department did.

"I want people to leave with a better understanding of the work that is going on in Bermuda,'' he said. "I want to make sure people understand that what we do is applied work.

"We are trying to optimise the use for maximum economic benefit. It leads to sustained employment for the fishermen, sustained production and supply for consumers.'' And Dr. Luckhurst said the new Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, in Hamilton, will help raise local awareness about the ocean.

"It will be a significant asset to Bermuda,'' he said. "It should help people to gain a better understanding of our ocean and their importance. And my talk will focus on one of those aspects.'' The Biological station runs a series of lectures for its associates' programme. Dr. Luckhurst will speak on July 9 at 7.30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

FISHERMEN FHP