season in September.

And by next summer Fisheries officers will be using the results of the three-year experiment to make recommendations to the Minister of the Environment.

The Minister, the Hon. Gerald Simons released the report of the second year of the Experimental Lobster Fishery this week.

It reveals that the total number of lobsters caught was well below the estimate for the total catch that would be allowed in any year.

But past president of the Bermuda Amateur Lobster Catchers' Association Mr.

Ted Gauntlett believes Government should have asked for more input from the divers involved.

Director of Fisheries Mr. John Barnes said: "The second year was not as successful as we thought it would be. There is nothing we can put our finger on to explain why this has happened. People are using the same gear and the same numbers of traps in the same areas but they have not been as productive.'' A total number of 12,621 legal lobsters were caught with 5,802 too short to keep. There were some 300 traps used by 21 fishermen who were granted licences.

Mr. Barnes is hoping the majority of the fishermen will apply for licences again this year with few, if any more, being eligible.

"A couple of the fishermen might not bother this season but I think we will have around the same number as last year,'' he said.

The report noted: "Several of the licence holders did not start the season at the beginning of September or started with less than their full allotment.

Similarly several lobster fishermen brought their traps ashore before the end of March.

"It was hoped that the higher level of participation in the second year might produce a large enough data set to refine the Total Allowable Catch estimate of 21,500 lobsters which was established from the results of the preliminary study in 1990-91.

"However, the total reported landings of legal lobsters from this past season has fallen substantially below this estimate and thus a considerably higher landings figure will need to be achieved before a refinement of this estimate can be attempted.'' Fishermen will now be allowed to try larger traps this season to test whether they are more successful than a greater number of small traps. Fishing will continue on the edge at depths of 20-35 fathoms but shallower depths may be considered in the future.

The report also revealed that there would be further experimentation with funnel openings in an attempt to stop predators getting into the traps.

Turbots and octopus have been responsible for a number of dead lobsters this year.

Mr. Gauntlett questioned the number of catches which were killed by predators.

He was "gravely concerned'' about any plans to continue research into fishing on the shallower platform which he said would be retrograde.

Asking for more input from the lobster divers, he said: "Admittedly they are only amateurs but it does seem a waste not to invite their support in attempting to get a more complete picture on this alleged data shortcoming.

"For example many divers would be willing to report sightings per dive in addition to actual catches which they are obliged to report anyway. For a season which for the vast majority is only for two months, it would appear sensible to take advantage of the many pairs of keen eyes searching the reefs after September 1.'' Mr. Gauntlett called for an enclosed area of reef where traps could be tested on lobsters specifically introduced for response to testing.

He said: "Similarly tests could be conducted on abilities to escape funnel types depending on soak time. I strongly suspect that given enough time lobsters will find their way out of many traps.'' The experiment will go ahead as planned according to Mr. Barnes, who said: "The long term objective is to put a restricted lobster fishery into place.

"We will have some idea of how much the bottom can bear and the approximate efficiency of the traps. We will know that we need `x' number of traps and whether more traps will threaten stocks.'' Mr. John Barnes.