Progressive Labour Party Senators yesterday denied the new Green Paper on marine resources and fishing contained no clues about Government's policies.

Opposition and Independent Senators said the 495-page Green Paper was a superb research tool, but complained that it did not give any hints about Government proposals.

But PLP Senator Calvin Smith said it was stated quite clearly during the consultation process that Government proposals would emerge in a White Paper taking into consideration all the submissions.

There were 127 written submissions from members of the public and interested groups.

He said there was near unanimous support for continuing a ban on the fishpots, which indiscriminately trap fish on the sea bed.

Sen. Smith said the paper also covered issues such as conserving the marine environment, preserving wrecks, public access to beaches, developments on the shoreline, the impacts of increased mooring and cruise ships, and limits on allowable fish catches.

He said: "It does not purport to provide answers, but to provide information relevant to any discussions that might ensue.'' There will now be public presentations to user groups.

Task groups will be set up to look at individual issues in the Green Paper and their responses will be synchronised by the Marine Resources Board, which will recommend action to Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson.

Sen. Smith said Mr. Hodgson would respond to these in September, and a White Paper containing Government's plans is expected in December.

He rejected criticism from Opposition Senate Leader Maxwell Burgess and Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes , a former director of Agriculture and Fisheries, that the paper gave little clue as to Government's intentions.

He said: "Government did not set out to make this a trial balloon to air policies before the public. It was starting afresh taking in all research.

"Government said at the outset that it did not have policies because there was so much out there that had not been done.'' But Sen. Burgess said: "The people gave their views, but what they did not get back was Government's view. That is disrespectful, it is contemptuous and it is not acceptable as a Green Paper.'' He called on Government to come back with a second Green Paper as a discussion document which outlined some preferred solutions.

Sen. Burgess, who declared an interest in a Canadian company hoping to sell waste treatment plants, said the Island must recycle its water. Sen Hughes said the Green Paper did not identify policies.

He added Mr. Hodgson was to be congratulated for introducing "sustainable development'' into the political lexicon. He was not sure it could work on land, but it could with the marine environment. He warned that the fishpot ban should not be lifted because it could lead to the reef dying, making the Island more vulnerable to ocean surges. Sen. Hughes said the way forward was a limited commercial industry leaving the sea to be used for tourism.

Government Senator Michael Scott said Government should consider space satellites to look for hidden fishpots, and could possibly share the cost with Caribbean countries.