Fishing communities are to stage a "day of action" on Friday in protest at the proposed reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.
The industry has also urged the Taoiseach to raise the issue at this week's summit of EU leaders in Copenhagen. Fishermen's representatives handed in a submission to Mr Ahern at Government Buildings yesterday.
The industry expects widespread support from communities around the coast for the day of action, which will begin at noon on Friday.
Ports which have already pledged support include Greencastle and Killybegs in Co Donegal, Rossaveal, Co Galway, Dingle, Co Kerry, Castletownbere, Union Hall and Baltimore in Co Cork, Dunmore East, Co Waterford, Howth, Co Dublin, and Clogherhead, Co Louth.
Four organisations have planned the initiative - the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO), the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters' Association (IFPEA), the Irish South & West Fish Producers' Organisation (IS&WFPO), and the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (KFO). Representatives at a news conference in Dublin yesterday explained that the entire Irish fishing fleet was being called ashore on Friday in a "dramatic gesture", aimed at highlighting opposition to the current review proposals which will be decided on at next week's fisheries council in Brussels.
The review of the Common Fisheries Policy involves scrapping state supports for new vessels, fleet reductions and effort limitation, but the Commission is also supporting a legal opinion which challenges the right to retain the "Irish Box".
The box was established on Iberian accession to the EU in 1986,to protect a biologically sensitive fishing zone 50 miles off this coast from the full onslaught of Europe's largest fishing fleet.
The fishing industry organisations have called on the Government to deliver the commitment made in the Programme for Government.
That commitment said the Government would "press for fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy with the aim of sustainable development, better governance, stakeholders involvement, conservation, stock building and maximising Ireland's access to fisheries".
The organisation identified five key issues which must be secured in the negotiations: These include a much improved quota allocation, retention of the Irish Box, technical conservation measures instead of the crude instrument of fleet reduction, and a recovery programme to deal with the cod crisis in the Irish Sea.
"The Irish fishing industry is not prepared to accept a quota allocation determined in the 1970s which gives Ireland 5 per cent of the overall Community resources although it has 11 per cent of the overall Community waters," the organisations said
The policy reform proposals must include social, economic and regional aspects that take into account the peripheral nature of coastal communities.
Mr Lorcan Ó Cinnéide, chief executive of the IFPO, said the current share out of fish stocks was completely outdated and unfair. Mr Jason Whooley, of the IS&WFPO, said that for every euro which Ireland had received from Europe, Irish fishermen paid back two euro in depleted fishing stocks around this coast. This was based on recent figures from Eurostat.
Mr Seán O'Donoghue, of the KFO, said the EU proposals posed a major threat to the future of the Irish fishing industry, and he predicted the industry's "death knell" if left unchallenged.
