The Department of the Marine is considering taking over responsibility for Dingle Harbour - thereby fulfilling a 15-year campaign begun in the time of former taoiseach Charles Haughey.
There were no plans to take responsibility for any other port, the department spokesman said.
This would make Dingle the country's sixth fishery harbour centre alongside Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Rossaveel and Killybegs.
A spokesman said officers from the department were carrying out a due diligence report on Dingle with a view to taking control of it. An advisory board would replace the existing harbour board.
There has been a drastic decline in local fishing activity in Dingle in recent years.
Under the proposals, the department would take responsibility for salaries, maintenance and capital works and it is hoped the takeover would lead to significant development works.
According to harbour vice chairman Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald, who is also a local councillor and Údarás na Gaeltachta member, the department's designation of Dingle as a fishery harbour centre had been promised in 1991. There was an urgent need for a deepening of the Dingle harbour channel and for additional marina berths. The harbour was now turning away customers, he added.