search Bermuda's waters for fish used in sushi dishes.

They believe long line fishing could increase employment associated with the local fishing industry.

But Government has come under fire from many local fishermen who believe that permitting a foreign ship to fish in Bermuda's exclusion zone is a blow to the local industry.

Unionised fishermen met on Tuesday night for a "spicy'' discussion, said leader Mr. Danny Farias, who called for Government to "come clean'' over the introduction of the foreign ship into local waters.

The Fisheries Department says Bermuda's fishermen are being invited to go aboard the American-flagged Anna C , hired by British company Ignis Foods, which will be allowed inside the 75-mile zone normally closed to foreign fishing boats.

Government is hoping she will pioneer a new offshore industry based on new species and new markets, such as Japanese sushi restaurants.

Although she will be allowed inside the 75-mile zone, she will not be allowed near traditional local fishing areas like the Challenger and Argus banks. All fish she takes will be banned from sale in Bermuda.

The Anna C will be searching for big-eye tuna, blue-fin tuna and swordfish. It may also take albacore and possibly yellow-fin tuna.

Director of Fisheries, Mr. John Barnes said: "We have interest expressed by both fishermen and non-fishermen about this ship.

Gov't defends foreign fishing boat From Page 1 "Most Bermudian fishermen make a good living on a diurnal basis. For someone who fishes during the daylight hours or goes out for a single night it would take a lot to convince them to spend a week at sea, particularly in the winter months.

"But it is an opportunity for employment for the fishing industry both directly and indirectly if we have a Bermudian presence.

"We have a huge fishing exclusion zone and we only use a fraction of it. It needs to be exploited and in this way we can use somebody else's money to see if it is exploitable.'' Mr. Barnes said it would not be sensible for a Bermudian to set up in business at a cost of around $500,000. He said: "It would be foolhardy to encourage people to go out and lose their shirts. But it needs to be investigated to see if we are sitting on a gold mine.'' But Mr. Farias said: "All I know is that we have a foreign vessel fishing against our shores with Government blessing.

"In the past they have called it experimental fishing now it is exploratory fishing.

"Here we have a British company, using an American vessel, to fish up against our shores. There is something seriously wrong, this should be Bermudian orientated. This is just pushing local fishermen out. This is another decision that is pulling us apart. Fishermen are struggling to feed their families.

Government is doing nothing to help.''