Irish fishing industry representatives have urged the Government to challenge catch quotas proposed for next year by the European Commission.
As the annual EU Fisheries Council gets under way in Brussels this morning, Ireland will be represented at the negotiations by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney.
Fishing groups have called on him to secure a good deal for the country.
Chairman of the Federation of Irish Fishermen Seán O'Donoghue said British fishing boats were still bringing in catches but those in the Republic were tied up.
He said the Republic's fishing industry was seeking equality with its counterparts in Britain.
After an adjournment, talks will resume tomorrow and could continue into the early hours of Saturday morning.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki will present the Commission's proposals for 2012, which ministers will discuss with a view to reaching political agreement so that the limits can enter into force next month.
Among the proposals are that no cod fishing takes place in the Irish Sea and the west coast of Scotland, given the poor state of local stocks.
Commissioner Damanaki will also present proposals by Brussels for a new financial instrument, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
The fund is intended to help fishermen in the transition towards sustainable fishing, as well as coastal communities in the diversification of their economies.
It is intended that the fund will finance projects that create new jobs and improve the quality of life for communities along European coasts.
Coveney predicts 'aggressive' talks
Minister Coveney has described the talks as "difficult", adding there was a lot of tension and he anticipated the negotiations would be "very aggressive at times".
Speaking to RTÉ News, he said he agreed with Irish fishing organisations which argue that some of the quotas being proposed by the commission are unacceptable.
However, Mr Coveney said where he disagreed with the commission it was "based on science" and was not an emotional argument.
He said Ireland's proposed changes would be both credible, real and "based on the science, and nothing else".
The minister said it would not be an easy day. The commissioner was very tough, Mr Coveney said, but he wanted to secure a sustainable deal.
