Fishermen prepare for vital month

The Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation has warned that the very existence of the country's fishing industry depends on the outcome of European negotiations next month.

The organisation said the EU fisheries council talks are the most vital in history and if it is decided to open up the Irish Box, the industry in Ireland will almost certainly die.

Other issues of concern include quota allocation, plans for fleet reduction and the EU's social policy on fishing.

Chief executive Sean O'Donoghue said: "If we don't achieve success on the four key areas it is more than likely that we're looking at the demise of the Irish fishing industry and the fishing communities along the western seaboard and southern seaboard over the next 10 to 20 years so I can't emphasise the importance of what's going on over the next four weeks."