The Sea Fisheries Authority, the state agency responsible for checking fishermen's catches, has said that it is to recommend increased catches of monk fish to help the fishing industry.
This emerged after a meeting between the agency and the Federation of Fishermen yesterday evening.
The Federation has accused the authority of intimidating and harassing fishermen and subjecting their boats to a far higher level of inspections than foreign vessels.
Following the meeting, the state body issued a conciliatory statement in which it said there is a need for it to have better relations with fishermen.
The Authority also announced that it was installing a new satellite monitoring system to provide a facility for families to view where a vessel was fishing
Last week nearly 2,000 people from coastal communities protested outside the offices of the Sea Fisheries Authority in Clonakilty, Co Cork.
The Federation has welcomed what it said is a new approach by the authority towards fishermen.
