whether fish from the controversial Anna C experiment went on sale locally.

The Anna C was given special permission for longline fishing in the hope she would point the way to new markets based on new species.

A condition of the trips was that the vessel could not sell its catch locally.

The experiment ended early, apparently after a financial row between the operators and owners of the vessel.

Yesterday Mr. Barnes said: "There is one case under investigation of the possibly illegal sale of fish. That fish could possibly have come off the Anna C , or off anyone else.''