Fishermen reject claims of widespread wrongdoing

The Irish Fish Producing Organisation is rejecting reports that a large scale illegal fishing scam is operating in Irish waters.

The fisherman’s group said that only a small sector of fishermen engage in unlawful over-night hauls.

They claim that allegations in today's Irish Independent that some anglers earn up to €500,000 for each of these illegal catches are totally unfounded.

Chief Executive of the IFPO, Lorcan O Cinneide, this afternoon claimed the Minister for the Marine is also guilty of name-smearing.

“I would be extremely critical of the Minister Noel Dempsey who has taken to smearing and slandering an entire fishing industry,” he said.

“Doubtless there are wrongdoers in the Irish fishing industry (but) they would be a very small minority, and we do not support or condone their activities in any way,” he added.