Fishermen pledge to fight higher port charges

THE fishing industry pledged yesterday to strongly resist what were described as exorbitant and unjustifiably increased port charges in the five State-run fishery harbours.

The four-fold increases add to the financial woes of an industry battling to survive against quota restrictions and falling product prices.

“The charges are outrageous and we won’t accept them as a fait accompli,” said Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation chief executive Seán O’Donoghue. Some Donegal boats facing 400% harbour increases could be forced to land their catches in Scotland, he said.