THREE Naval Service and one British naval fishery protection vessels were patrolling the Irish Box area yesterday as it was opened to fishing by Spanish trawlers under new EU rules.
The Irish authorities received messages from four Spanish trawlers that they intended to begin fishing in the Irish Box yesterday. However, by nightfall yesterday, none was spotted in the area.
The Naval Service had three ships patrolling the area, the LE Orla, which is detailed to look for trawlers coming into the Irish Box off the south west coast, and the LE Aoife and LE Eithne.
The LE Eithne was travelling north to relieve the LE Aoife in the search for the Carrickatine, the Donegal fishing vessel which sank a month ago with the loss of its six crew. Both Naval Service vessels were also detailed to look out for incursions into the fishing area.
The Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation (ISWFO) yesterday warned that confrontation would be inevitable if the Spanish tried to force Irish fishing boats out of fishing waters.
A spokesman said yesterday: "Confrontation seems inevitable as it has been widely recognised that there are already too many boats chasing too few fish in these waters. The Irish fishermen are no strangers to intimidation and other bully boy tactics which have occurred in the past to drive them off the fishing grounds."
Also yesterday, as the British fisheries protection vessel, HMS Lindisfarne, took up station in the area, Mr Davis Harris, the chairman of the Conservative Party's Fisheries Committee, said allowing in the Spanish boats would only lead to further cuts in quotas.
He said he had written to the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, asking him to take the lead in sorting out the Common Fisheries Policy under which foreign boats are admitted.
Up to 40 Spanish boats at a time have been allowed into the Irish Box under a controversial Euro agreement bitterly opposed by UK fishermen.
Mr Harris, who has the major fishing port of Newlyn in his constituency, said the decision made a mockery of conservation and posed an enforcement nightmare. "The end result is going to be massive over fishing of stocks already under pressure."
He also predicted the Spanish would be up to "every trick in the book". It would be difficult to ensure there were only 40 Spanish boats at a time in the area, adding that the capacity for deception was enormous in a huge area of sea where boats could dodge in and out.
"I am highly sceptical of the ability to police the area. They will not be able to control it," he said, conceding that the presence of fishery protection vessels was important.
The British Fisheries Minister, Mr Tony Baldry, told BBC Radio 4's The World At One that the Spanish would not be getting any extra fish by coming into the Irish Box.