Foreign fishing vessels may be prevented from entering Irish ports over the next few days as anger continues to mount over the outcome of last week's EU fisheries council.
A crisis meeting of south-west fishermen in Cork yesterday has called for the arrest of any Spanish vessels which breach the Irish Box restrictions from January 1st.
The Irish South and West Fish Producers' Organisation (IS&WFPO), which hosted the meeting, had to appeal for calm from its members.
However, its chief executive, Mr Jason Whooley, said he could not rule out unofficial protest action "because frustration levels are that high".
Mr Whooley pleaded with his members to stick with the "negotiation option" at least until the organisation meets the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, next Thursday.
The Minister has also invited the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO) and the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (KFO) to attend the meeting.
However, Mr Whooley told The Irish Times that the mood was such that he could not rule out conflict at sea.
"So we want a solid commitment from this Government that vessel number 41, over the current limit of 40 Spanish vessels in the \ Box area, will be arrested."
The European Commission left it to Spain and Ireland to sort out the Irish Box issue and the Minister, Mr Ahern, is understood to be trying to arrange a meeting with his Spanish counterpart, Mr Miguel Arias Cañete. However, it is not expected that this meeting will take place before January 2nd.
The current list system for Spanish vessels expires on Sunday, and so far the Spanish government has not submitted a new list, indicating that it now intends to ignore the 40-vessel restriction.
Mr Whooley said that if the meeting with the Minister next week was not satisfactory, he was "seriously concerned about the consequences".
Mr Whooley had found it very hard to explain to his members why the Commission was supporting increased fishing effort in the area when three of four stock recovery plans applied to the Irish Box. "These political games in Brussels could result in conflict at sea," he said.
Mr Ebbie Sheehan, a west Cork vessel owner, said fishermen had seen for themselves how a relatively small number of Spanish vessels could close off sea areas of up to 30 miles by setting gill nets and warning Irish trawlers away.
"Another 200 vessels in the Box area will make for a very crowded ground and Irish vessels will either have to tow through Spanish gear, which will immediately cause a row, or stop fishing altogether," Mr Sheehan said.
