‘Banana republic’ turns against eel fishermen

AS A commercial fisherman facing the dole as a result of the proposed government ban on eel fishing, I am fed up with this banana republic.

The scientific basis for this decision is highly questionable. No comprehensive survey of eels has been undertaken in Ireland in recent years and the proposal for a complete ban does not originate from the body of science available. The purpose of the total ban is not apparent from a conservation point of view.

However there are reasons other then spurious scientific ones for the total ban on eel fishing in Ireland.