Commercial fish farms could be the wave of the future to maximise Bermuda's marine-based economy.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson revealed that fish farming -- breeding of fish in large cage-like enclosures -- had been looked at in the massive Green Paper on fishing and the marine economy, due to be unveiled tomorrow.

Mr. Hodgson said: "The potential is certainly there -- it's been raised in the Green Paper.'' Fish farming is a major money-spinner in northern Europe, especially Scotland, Scandinavia and the isolated Faroe Islands, and generates millions of dollars of income a year.

Salmon and trout are the most commonly-reared fish in these areas, brought to maturity in massive cage-like enclosures.

But Mr. Hodgson stressed that fish farming in the Caribbean/Bermuda area and other warmer climates was a relatively unknown science.

Hodgson's future hopes for commercial fish farms He said is would require research into its feasibility.

He said: "All species are not susceptible to being farmed and we would have to find something which would do well in Bermuda's climate.'' And he added that Bermuda -- further north than the Caribbean and markedly colder in winter but always warmer than northern Europe -- presented a unique set of challenges in establishing commercial fish farming.

And he said that the Green Paper -- drawn up from submissions to the Ministry and intended for public discussion -- did not represent Government policy or backing for specific initiatives.

But the Green Paper will be followed by a White Paper -- which will lay out Government's proposals for the efficient and environmentally-friendly management of Bermuda's seas.

Mr. Hodgson said that the Green Paper had also emphasised the requirement for any future decisions to be based on strong scientific evidence.

He explained: "One thing which impressed me was the need for acceptable research information -- by that I mean information which everybody recognises as being scientifically accurate.

"That is definitely something which has to be settled and how we're going to do that is something we will be looking at.'' But he said he expected the Green Paper to be a vital tool in exploiting and protecting the waters around Bermuda -- and to provoke lively discussion on major marine topics.

Mr. Hodgson added: "It nicely puts together all of the fisheries-related legislation, which is itself very useful.

"But it's really a discussion paper for the public and we will be having meetings on it and I will be making a Ministerial statement when it is tabled on Friday.'' GOVERNMENT GVT