An Aran island ferry company claims that proposed new fishery harbour charges represent a "tax on tourism" and on islanders travelling to and from the mainland.
The fishing industry has also roundly condemned the proposed charges, which represent an increase of up to 600 per cent in some cases. The Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, was due to implement the new dues on July 1st, but yesterday a spokesman said he is now "undecided" on the timing.
The proposed increases are the first since 1990, according to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. They will apply in the five fishery harbour centres of Killybegs, Co Donegal, Rossaveal, Co Galway, Castletownbere, Co Cork, Dunmore East, Co Waterford and Howth, Co Dublin.
The charges range from fees for landing and discharging fish, to berthing and the use of slipways, mobile cranes and synchrolifts.
One Aran island skipper who spoke to The Irish Times estimated that the charges would cost him €27,350 a year.
They will also apply to the ferry companies which use Rossaveal, and will result in a levy of €1.20 per passenger, according to Mr Padraic Whelan of Inis Mór Ferries.
This charge will not be levied on passengers using Doolin, Co Clare, or Galway city, as neither of these are designated fishery harbour centres.
Mr Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation (IS&WFO) said the Minister's timing and his lack of consultation had angered many fishermen.
"We acknowledge charges have been low in some cases, but we would have preferred some dialogue. In the case of Castletownbere, Co Cork, a promised harbour development isn't going to happen now and fishermen are not going to pay so much extra for inadequate facilities."
The price hike could not come at a worse time for the fishing industry, which is currently grappling with the twin issues of the Irish Box and the days at sea regime introduced by the European Commission.
An additional EU proposal to cancel the "tonnage" of vessel owners who did not have this recorded as an actual vessel on the State register as of January 1st, 2003, has also caused widespread anger.
The EU tonnage proposal has been condemned by the IS&WFO and the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO) .
Mr Lorcan Ó Cinneide of the IFPO warned that the move would deprive many people of rights which were purchased at great cost, and had the potential to destabilise the economic foundations of the industry.
"To introduce this additional domestic problem of new harbour charges now, at a time when we are in such a serious crisis at international level, begs the question - who is the Minister representing," Mr Whooley said yesterday.
Mr Padraic Whelan of Inis Mór Ferries said the company was "aghast" at the proposed increased harbour charges.