Island's commercial fishing industry.

In fact most parrot fish are caught by accident according to two of the Island's fishermen.

Commercial fisherman Mr. Alan Bean is all in favour of a ban and operator of Baxter's Reef Fishing Captain Mike Baxter said a ban is all but in place already.

Minister of the Environment the Hon. Gerald Simons announced Government was considering banning catching parrot fish because they are a vital component of the ecosystem of the reefs.

The Marine Resources Board recommended the Minister add all parrot fish to the Protected Species Order 1978.

However he wants feedback from the public on whether the ban should be enforced.

Mr. Simons said: "The colourful parrot fish are herbivores which graze on the algae that grows on coral therefore preventing the coral being overgrown.

"The Ministry feels that because parrot fish are so important to the reefs they should be protected before their survival is in any way called into question.'' The ban on the use of fishpots has gone a long way to protecting the fish but the Minister pointed out that some are still occasionally caught using a hook and line.

Commercial fishermen only occasionally take the fish, with 971 being taken in the whole of 1992. Recreational fishermen and spear-fishermen account for a small number of the fish taken.

Mr. Bean said: "It is not something we would catch but some are caught near the reefs. I do not see the sense in taking a parrot fish because people do not eat many of them.

"There were some people selling them at one time but that has since stopped.

I think they should be protected.'' Capt. Baxter said: "I would catch two or three a year at the most. They tend not to go for our bait. They go for algae.

"The main way to catch them was using nets and taps.

Netting was banned and the traps are now restricted.''