The three main fishing organisations have called on the Taoiseach to restore a dedicated Department of the Marine in the Cabinet reshuffle.
They say he should follow the example of the EU Commission President whom he helped to choose and who has appointed a dedicated Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.
The three organisations - the Irish Fish Producers, the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation and the Irish South and West Organisation - say in a joint statement that Ireland has the biggest marine resource per capita of anywhere in the EU and is not well served by not having a dedicated Minister.
They have pointed to the decision in the EU to appoint a dedicated Commissioner for Fisheries and maritime affairs and say that the Taoiseach should restore maritime matters to a higher level of Government attention.
They also claim that fishing is so important to the economic and employment future of regional, coastal areas that the industry must get more attention to deal with the major challenges ahead in the EU.
