Minister must clarify fishing area, say FG

The Minister for Marine is under pressure to resolve the uncertainty surrounding Irish fishing grounds.

Mr Ahern is being called on to arrange another meeting with EU commissioner Franz Fischler to clarify the legal status of the area known as the Irish box.

However, the Minister insists the situation remains unchanged and that the number of Spanish vessels has been restricted to 40.

He says that the issue must now be resolved at an EU level.

Fine Gael insist however that the Minister is fuelling uncertainty by failing to make a clear statement.

Spokesperson Simon Coveney says that if the Minister is sure about the legal requirements regarding the use of the Irish box, then it is his responsibility to advise the naval service to arrest foreign vessels that are in the fishing area illegally.