Moves to block Spanish fisherman

THE Government is to launch a diplomatic offensive today to block an invasion of Irish waters by Spanish fishermen.

The Spanish government claims its fishing fleet can fish in Irish waters from January. However, Marine Minister Dermot Ahern will meet the Danish marine minister in Copenhagen today to discuss the protection of the Irish fishing industry. The Danes hold the presidency of the EU and are one of its largest fishing nations.

Mr Ahern has already met the French, British and Portuguese marine ministers and says he has received their support to prevent the Spanish gaining full fishing rights in Irish waters.

According to legal advice given to the European Council which co-ordinates the activities of EU members the Spanish can have full access to some of the EU's richest fishing waters from January.

They have been restricted to 40 vessels up to now but they claim the terms of the agreement under which they joined the EU in 1986 removes this limit next year.

A spokesman for Mr Ahern said the Government does not accept this legal opinion at all and is seeking its own legal advice.

"We will fight this attempt to change the current situation," the spokesperson said.

Mr Ahern is meeting EU Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler in Dublin on Monday and will also chair a meeting attended by various fisheries organisations.

Chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, Sean O'Donoghue, warned that allowing more vessels into the Irish 'box' would decimate fish stocks.

Irish fishermen get more than 90% of their catch from the box.

Mr O'Donoghue said it would not make any sense at all to allow more fishermen into the area, especially at a time when species such as cod are under severe threat.

Instead he believes the amount of time trawlers including Irish are allowed operate in the Irish box should be cut to allow the fish to recover.

"Giving the Spanish fleet access to this sensitive and important area would be disastrous and completely contrary to the needs of the industry," he said.

The EU Common Fisheries Policy is being reviewed at present with proposals that include reducing catches and cutting fleets. There are also proposals to reduce and in some cases stop all cod fishing because stocks are dangerously low.