ERROR RG P4 1.12.1998 In yesterday's Royal Gazette it was reported that fishermen Arthur Farias, Allan Bean, Nelson Ible and Bernard Richardson had been reissued with lobster pot permits by new Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson.

The permits were in fact issued to Mr. Farias and three other fishermen.

Misters Bean, Ible and Richardson will be meeting with Government officials next week, along with their lawyer, Mr. Julian Hall to try and get their ban overturned.

Four lobster fishermen who had their licences revoked after being caught with illegal traps have been given permission to fish again.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson yesterday ruled that the four men should be allowed to practice their livelihood -- even though he is satisfied that they had been fishing illegally when the ban was imposed in January.

And he stressed that, while people who broke the law should not have their livelihoods taken away from them, they should still face stiff penalties through the courts.

The incident caused a storm of controversy at the beginning of the year when then-Environment Minister Irving Pearman imposed the ban on Arthur Farias, Allan Roderick Bean, Nelson Ible and Bernard Richards.

Their pots were confiscated after it was discovered that the escape hatches were larger than the regulation two and one quarter inches. But the four fishermen argued that they had been given permission to alter the Government-issued traps after discovering that large fish were getting in through the escape hatches and eating the lobsters.

Yesterday Mr. Hodgson said: "We think that when people break the law they should be taken to court and punished by the courts but I don't want to get into using economic leverage as a means of punishment.

"I am not getting into taking away a person's livelihood by punishing them for infringing a law so to that extent there may be a change in policy. I am not even quite sure what the old policy was.

"If people are getting the wrong signal then they will get it when they come before the courts -- and I am considering more drastic punishment.

"People who break the law will be punished. However I will not be using their licence or livelihood as a means of punishment. There's not going to be a free for all in Bermuda's waters. It's a public resource and will be protected as such.

"In this case I am satisfied that they were guilty but I think they've been punished enough.'' Three weeks ago the four fishermen, who have always maintained their innocence, filed a writ against the Department of the Environment, claiming $100,000 each as compensation for loss of earnings.

Yesterday's decision could now result in that action being dropped, although it is understood the four men are still seeking compensation. Last night Luvince Cann, the attorney representing the fishermen, said: "Basically we will be having a meeting with the Government on December 3 and so we don't want to say anything at the moment.''