Tougher penalties for abusers of the marine environment could be on the cards, Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson said yesterday.

And environmental agencies could team up to enforce the law.

Mr. Hodgson told the House of Assembly at the start of the debate into Government's Green Paper on Marine Resources and the Fishing Industry in Bermuda: "One suggestion was an environmental police force, where park rangers, dog wardens and marine Police would be an integrated force.

"I have been resisting actually taking such drastic action.'' But he said the link up might be a more efficient use of resources.

He added that his employees tended to work normal civil service hours.

"However a number of issues come up -- one is the issue of enforcement.

"They work from nine to five but unfortunately those who choose to violate the law choose inconvenient hours.'' A revamp of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department is on the cards, continued Mr. Hodgson.

He said progress on this was delayed because of the Civil Service Review.

"We are looking at this at the moment. It's come off the back burner and is now on the front burner.'' Penalties needed to be stepped up, said the Minister.

"Punishment can be written off as a cost of doing business. A $100,000 business can be fined $5,000. There is no disincentive to breaking the law.

"I hope we can increase penalties to the point where courts can impose prison and take licenses so that can and will be a deterrent.'' He said he was pleased with the firm action taken by Magistrates over fishpots.

And he said it might be time to remove Government from the punishment process.

"I am hoping the Minister can be divorced from this.

"From time to time there's political pressure on Ministers but courts are insulated from this process.

"Hopefully we can take the entire process out of the hands of the Government and place the entire thing before the courts.'' He said the lawbreakers were not as comfortable as they were before.

"Certainly two are not as comfortable having lost $9,000.

"In Magistrates' Court you have to consider a guilty plea -- that usually results in a reduction in a sentence because of that guilty plea. I will ask the Marine Resources Board to consider that principle as well.'' In other jurisdictions, he said, penalties were harsher for marine offences than Bermuda's $50,000 maximum.

He said: "In the Bahamas, there's a $50,000 minimum and a $100,000 maximum.

"In the Caymans, the fine is $570,000 for a summary conviction.'' A vessel monitoring system may be set up to help keep tabs on boats.

He said: "If there are allegations of illegal fishing in a particular locality, we can immediately disprove those allegations because we knew where the fishing boat was -- also it could help us prove if illegal fishing was taking place.

"It would also be beneficial in search and rescue.'' But extra funds would be needed to pay for this and this would require higher taxes, a burden which will fall on water users.

"It's clear to me to keep track of our marine resources the Department needs a much higher budget.

"It's clear the users will have to pay more.''