EC may scrap plan to let Spain fish Irish box

THE European Council may scrap a plan to open up the Irish Box to the Spanish fishing fleet after strong objections from the Irish government.

Marine Minister Dermot Ahern, who has mounted a diplomatic offensive all week to block the Spaniards from having full access to the richest fishing grounds around Ireland, welcomed the move.

He wants to tighten up the existing controls which limit the area to a specific number of boats from a few EU countries, and reduce the amount of time they and the Irish fleet can fish the area.