An American-based long-line fishing vessel is due in Bermuda today to help the Ministry of Environment assess the economic viability of permanently bringing the practice to the Island’s waterways.

Two local fishermen, at the invitation of the Ministry, have already said they want to take a stab at long-line fishing and embark on an Eagle Eye II mission to harvest mainly swordfish and tuna.

Other fishermen or people interested in the profession are invited to sign up as well.

Over the course of the next two months the Eagle Eye II will make journeys within Bermuda’s 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said she is thrilled with the idea: “Bermudian fishermen will have the opportunity to learn new techniques that can help expand the local fishing industry and get more young Bermudians involved in fishing.”

Commercial fisherman David Soares, who has already committed to a training mission, said: “It is a great training opportunity.

“It is like going to college at sea, and I think it is very good of the Bermuda Government to arrange this opportunity.”

Not everyone though will be excited by the prospect of long-line fishing in Bermuda’s waters.

Environmentalists around the world consider the practice extremely harmful to wildlife.

The American Sea Turtle Restoration Trust released a report in 2004 that said more than four million fish, dolphins, and birds are killed in the Pacific Ocean each year because of long-line fishing. Endangered species like sea turtles and albatrosses are sometimes among the dead.

The accidental kills are known as by-catch.

Last year in Hawaii the issue reached such a fever pitch officials had to cut the long-line fishing season short.

In a press statement yesterday the Ministry said the>Eagle Eye II project was only “an initial evaluation” — a decision will be made later about whether or not to permit long-line fishing on a permanent basis.

In a June 2005 White Paper the Ministry said: “Should the findings prove favourable, Government will encourage pelagic (surface level) long-line fishing for tuna, swordfish and other species.”

The Ministry of Environment contracted the services of Eagle Eye II from today until March 31, 2007.

She is a 90-foot long steel ship.

The catch resulted from her exploration and training missions will be the property of the crew, but some of the catch may be sold locally.

Long-line fishing study