Minister backs down on charges increase as fishermen warn of port extinction

MARINE Minister Dermot Ahern has temporarily deferred new port charges which, fishermen claim, threaten the future of the industry.

Trawler owners operating out of the country's five State-run fishery harbours faced average increases in port charge of €20,000 a year.

The new charges were due to be implemented from today. However, the industry warned that some of the country's best-known fishing ports could face extinction.