Irish eel fishermen have decided to begin a legal challenge against the Minister for Communications over his closure of the commercial eel fishery.
The Minister banned eel fishing two months ago on the grounds that stocks of eels were in danger of being wiped out.
But eel fishermen claim while stocks in Europe are under pressure, they are not in Ireland and the ban was unnecessary.
They claim that between 200 and 400 direct and indirect jobs have been wiped out by the Minister's action.
It is not clear when the High Court challenge by the Associaton of Irish Eel Fishermen will be heard.
