A Cuban deep sea fishing vessel operating out of Bermuda will not hurt local fishermen's livelihoods, its owner has vowed.

Neil Inchcup, whose long liner the Jurel landed a portion of its first catch here last week, said he will not be competing with traditional markets.

Last week the vessel brought 20,000 lbs of fish to Bermuda and Mr. Inchcup said between 75 and 90 percent of subsequent catches will be exported to the US.

The remainder will be sold on the local market. The vessel has now returned to sea and will not return for up to two months.

"I have no intention of hurting the local fishermen,'' he said. "I catch species of fish that the locals can't catch.

"They can't go out as far as the Jurel . I speak to local restaurants and hotels, and I can't supply what they want -- rockfish and red snapper.'' He was responding to comments made by fisherman and new chairman of the Marine Environment Committee, Danny Farias.

Mr. Farias said he had already received calls from fisherman who were concerned over the activities of the Jurel .

And he said the matter would be discussed and ultimately passed to Environment Minister, Arthur Hodgson, after the committee's meeting on Monday.

"If this stuff gets unloaded in Bermuda it will hurt local fishermen,'' said Mr. Farias. "They are already very concerned about it. It is their families and traditional way of life.

"We have to take care of our own. The problem is where are they fishing? How far off shore? But the major problem is if they land the fish, what is going to happen to local fishermen and their families?'' Mr. Inchcup's vessel -- which caused a minor storm when it arrived with its mainly Cuban crew -- works up to 120 miles out of Bermuda and within the 200 mile limit -- but way beyond the distances that the majority of Bermudian fishermen can travel.

The Jurel's catch consists of species such as swordfish, tuna, mahi mahi and shark.

It will return to the Island between six and seven times a year.

The proportion of fish that is sold here will be dependent upon what can be sold abroad.

A Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries spokesman said there was nothing wrong in what the Jurel was doing.

All its paperwork is in order and it is one of a few vessels which fish at a distance from Bermuda but in the 135,000-square miles of ocean claimed by the Island.

The spokesman said fishing zones needed to be used in order to assert sovereignty and for international catch quotas to be maintained.

In addition, he added, the operation provided income for Bermudians, two of whom work on the vessel, and more in the dockside operation of the business.

Mr. Inchcup said that already tonnes of frozen fish were landed for the Island's supermarkets and restaurants.

"If we have an abundance of fish I would suggest an embargo on foreign fish, but I don't think that will happen,'' he said.

The Jurel arrived in Bermuda from Havana in November, only to be impounded in St. George's Harbour whilst difficulties over work permits for the 26-strong Cuban crew were sorted out.

Eventually the vessel returned to Cuba and arrived back in Bermuda in December. Permits were granted for the crew and it left for its first voyage soon after.

Mr. Farias said he had no problem with foreign fishermen, but was concerned over them working from Bermuda at the expense of locals.

But Mr. Inchcup said he would be happy to employ Bermudians and had advertised positions on numerous occasions, but said there were very few who were prepared to go to sea for two months at a time.

"If they want to come aboard my ship I would like that, but if I don't get a response what am I to do?''