The Minister for Communications and the Marine has branded attempts by the Spanish fishing industry to get unrestricted access to the 'Irish Box' fishing waters as "making a mockery of EU policy to conserve stocks."
In a strong attack on Spanish fishing policy, Mr Ahern said that Spain had by far the largest fleet in the EU and the potential to fish-out Irish waters.
The Minister said this was of major concern to Ireland and the removal of the current restrictions on Spanish access to the Irish Box would result in a huge and uncontrollable increase in fishing activity that would place the future of fishing in waters off Ireland in danger of total collapse.
Portuguese and most Spanish fishing vessels are prohibited from fishing in the Irish Box, which extends approximately 80km from the Irish coast.
Irish fishing organisations fear Spanish pressure could force the EU Fisheries Commission to abandon the protective measures in the Box and allow many more boats in there, threatening fish stocks in the most sensitive of European spawning areas.
Minister Ahern met the President of the EU Fisheries Council, Danish Minister, Marian Boal, in Copenhagen today and said that not only should the existing controls on entry into the Irish Box be maintained but they should be strengthened.
Meanwhile fishermen in Castletownbere have been staging a protest at the entrance to Dinish Island where Spanish fishing boats land catches for transport back to Spain.
The protest is intended to demonstrate Irish concern about the pressure on the Irish Box in advance of Monday's talks between fishermen and the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Franz Fischler, in Dublin. He will also meet Mr Ahern.
