South and east coast fishermen have called for the "full backing of the Irish people" in the Government's battle to save the Irish Box.
The Irish South and East Fishermen's Organisation, which was formed earlier this year, says the industry is at its most critical point in decades. In less than two weeks an EU council will decide the shape of fisheries management in the European "pond" for the next 20 years.
The organisation cited the recent Eurostat calculation, indicating that Irish waters had contributed €120 billion since joining the EU. A fraction of this had been received in return for grant-aid for new vessels and fishery protection, it said.
"If two-thirds of European whitefish stocks are diminished, it is hardly the fault of the Irish fleet, since we have engaged in little fishing activity outside the Irish Box and have only a small percentage of the total fleet fishing inside," Mr Michael Walsh, chairman of the organisation, said. He was speaking in Arthurstown, Co Wexford.
"There is a black cloud over the industry at the moment as fishermen don't know what to expect.
"We are currently experiencing long vessel tie-ups due to bad weather. This is normal for this time of year, but at every other time we have had the spring fishery to look forward to," Mr Walsh said.
The industry had worked hard to put a series of conservation proposals to the EU as part of Ireland's submission to the fisheries policy review, he said.
"We are all very prepared to contribute to the rebuilding and protection of whitefish stocks in our waters, where we can have a viable and sustainable future.
"Unfortunately we are only a tiny part of the problem of overfishing, and we would need full co-operation from all EU vessels operating inside Irish waters before proper management could be achieved," Mr Walsh said.
"In many cases, EU vessels are catching fish in our waters, when our own tiny quota has been exhausted. This puts fishermen in an awful position, in that they know the fish are there."
