Fears of conflict if Spanish invade Irish waters

AN armada of 200 Spanish trawlers will invade Irish fishing waters on January 1 unless Marine Minister

Dermot Ahern works out a compromise deal, a fishermen's leader warned last night.

Irish fishermen will not take this threat to their livelihoods lying down and there could be serious confrontation on the high seas, Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation manager Jason Whooley warned. "The high seas are dangerous enough without having conflict out there. I am not convinced we can convince our fishermen to stay out of conflict," Mr Whooley said.

Irish fishermen are angry about the EU fishing deal struck in Brussels last week which limits their quotas by 5% next year and also the number of days the fishermen can go to sea.

But the biggest problem is the confusion surrounding the Irish Box a 50-mile area around the Irish coast where only 40 Spanish fishing vessels had daily permits to fish up to now.

The Brussels deal makes no mention of the Irish Box, and the Spanish are interpreting this as a lifting of the limit on the number of their vessels that can fish there.

However, Mr Ahern is insisting that the Irish Box restriction remains along with the daily limit of 40 Spanish boats. He is prepared to take Spain to the European Court if they break the boat limits. But the Irish South West Fishermen's Organisation believes an armada of 200 Spanish trawlers is waiting off the coast of Morocco and northern Spain to head for the Irish Box on January 1.

"The big question is what will happen when boat number 41 enters the Irish Box," Mr Whooley said.

The ISWFO is blaming EU Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler for the confusion, because he gave no directive on the future of the Irish Box and told both governments to sort out the problem. "It is surprising that Commissioner Fischler, who has always been so strong on conservation, is prepared to allow more vessels into such sensitive spawning area. Calling on Mr Ahern and the Taoiseach to intervene to resolve the issue, Mr Whooley said he could not rule out a blockade. Labour marine spokesman Tommy Broughan asked the minister to clarify disturbing reports of an "informal deal" between himself and Spanish fishermen.

The ISWFO will hold a public meeting in the Kingsley Hotel, Cork, on Friday at 1pm to discuss future action.