Fishermen are beginning a campaign to counter what they claim is the negative image of them portrayed by the Government.
A new organisation representing the country's fishermen claims the Government is branding its members as criminals.
The Chairman of the newly-formed Federation of Irish Fishermen, Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, has called for a meeting with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, to try to change this perceived image.
He told RTÉ that throughout the coastal communities there was anger at the manner in which the Government had portrayed them.
The Federation of Fishermen was formed just five days ago.
Mr Ó Cinnéide said the industry remained essential to coastal communities and faced the prospect of having to cut a sizeable number of vessels from the fishing fleet to survive, which would create considerable difficulties.
He said the Government had painted an image of the industry as criminals and fishermen felt the Government had removed everything that was 'good' about their industry.
The new federation has a legitimacy to act for them, he said, and he hoped the Taoiseach would meet fishermen and show that coastal regions as well as urban centres were important to the Government.
