tonnes of bluefin tuna a year.

Now it is hoped a commercial fishing industry will develop to meet the demand for the fish in Japan.

Bluefin tuna is a prized part of traditional sushi -- raw fish -- cuisine and the Japanese are prepared to pay large sums for it.

The news was broken to the Senate by Government Sen. Noela Haycock, spokeswoman on environmental matters, in her maiden speech.

She said: "Bluefin is the favourite species of the Japanese and they are very happy to get it for sushi.

"The Japanese have created an incredible world market for bluefin tuna and our fishermen now have the opportunity to capitalise on that.'' The deal was negotiated by now-disgraced Environment Minister Mr. Tim Smith and a team from the Ministry of the Environment in Spain last week.

Mr. Smith and his team also negotiated full membership rights for Bermuda in ICCAT -- the International Commission on Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.

And the team also won quota levels for the Bermudian commercial bluefin tuna catch.

Sen. Haycock said: "The ocean is being carved up by these international treaties and if Bermuda is not in on them, it risks losing out.'' But she added the quota had now presented a golden opportunity for Bermudian fishermen -- if they were prepared to take up the challenge.

She said: "It's very good news for any potential deep ocean fishermen and people may wish to take advantage of the quota.

It would be very foolish not to. There is an economic opportunity out there and it would undoubtedly be a profitable business considering the very high market value of tuna at the moment.''