Fishermen are renowned for telling tall stories about the size of their catch.

But now Government is to rely on their honesty in enforcing proposed restrictions of two bags per day.

Self-regulation will be the key to plans to introduce limits on certain pelagic species for amateur fishermen later this year.

Government has embarked on a consultation process to trawl the opinions of anglers and to ask them to become the stewards of the oceans.

The Department of Environmental Protection has written to the Island's fishing clubs, proposing a maximum catch of two fish per boat per day for wahoo, yellowfish funa, blackfin tuna, bigeye tuna and albacore tuna. A limit of one bluefin tuna a day is also being recommended.

The Marine Resources Section is now asking people to send their comments and concerns to the Department by April 30. However, the response so far has been less than enthusiastic.

One angler, who did not wish to be named, said: "The proposal if implemented, would kill the recreational fishery and have a costly impact on the Government revenue and local business."

Director of Environmental Protection, Dr. Fred Ming, admitted that any catch limits would have to be enforced through self-regulation.

"We can't do it alone - it's going to require the cooperation of the fishermen themselves," he told The Royal Gazette.

"We would like to see the fishermen as becoming part of the whole stewardship programme. Historically there has been a core group that has been very stewardship-minded, and has actually initiated some of the policy measures over the last few years to protect resources. But we want to expand that way of thinking, so that fishermen see they are part of the effort to protect these resources for their children."

Dr. Ming said: "We want to get a better grip on the management of resources for future generations, and also to establish a level playing field based upon 'pay for access'.

"Right now the recreational users are not providing us with any information on what they're catching."

He said that as a member of ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna), Bermuda is granted a 'quota' on annual take of certain pelagic species.

"We want to be sure we are in line with our allocation, and so these discussions we're having will not only affect recreational fishermen but also commercial fishermen," he said.

"Right now the commercial fishermen are required to report their catch, but we are not convinced we are getting a firm enough commitment from that sector, so we just want to tighten up to get the information from that resource."

Government will also encourage more 'catch and release'.

Dr. Ming said: "Top-level sports fishermen will often 'catch and release' and so we are moving in the spirit of that direction, to encourage it and for people to take what they need to eat, and not to take more."

The consultation process will last until the Fall and Government says it will hold public meetings with interested parties.

"We will be holding meetings where people can voice their concerns, thoughts and feelings as we work towards developing a mechanism for assuring the sustainability of the resource," said Dr. Ming.

"We want to be able to have a healthy stock here."

In a letter to the Island's fishing clubs, Tammy Trott, Acting Senior Marine Resources Officer, says: "It is believed that recreational pelagic fish landings are quite substantial and are increasing. However, as statistics are not required from this sector, information needed for the better management of these species is not obtained.

"Given the current state and growing size of the recreational fishery, it is felt that the implementation of bag limits on pelagic fish species will assist in fulfilling this objective. Moreover, it will help to foster stewardship of our marine resources by creating grounds for parity and fairness amongst those who fish, be it for fun or profession.

"When factoring in the recreational catch, we have certainly been well over this limit every year. ICCAT is almost certainly being exceeded when recreational landings are added to commercial landings."

Last night however, Shadow Environment Minister and Opposition Deputy Leader, Cole Simons, said more facts were needed before any restrictions were imposed.

"We believe that any Government regulation, if it is to be fair and effective, must be based first and foremost on the facts of any given situation. With this in mind we have some questions about the Government's plan to restrict recreational fish catches," said Mr. Simons.

"What statistics are driving this proposal? What statistics is Government drawing on to conclude in a letter to local fishing clubs that Bermuda is likely to be breaching pelagic fish catch quotas? The wording of the letter by the Marine Resources section of the Department of the Environment indicates the Government's proposed restrictions are not anchored by any empirical evidence.

"Yellowfin tuna quotas, for example, are 'almost certainly being exceeded'. Recreational pelagic fish catches, 'it is believed', are 'quite substantial and are increasing', even though the letter acknowledges in the same sentence that it has no information from the fishery to support the statements.

"In the interest of fairness, we believe that the Government needs to compile empirically sound information before it commits to restricting an activity that may not be hurting the pelagic fishery or any international commitment that binds the Island."