Ice plants at three of Ireland's largest fishing ports have been ordered to close following health and safety inspections.
Trawler captains have been informed by the Bord Iascaigh Mhara that ice plants at Howth, Kilmore Quay and Dunmore East have been temporarily shut down.
Ice from the plants is used by mainly larger fishing boats to keep their catch fresh while they are at sea.
BIM conducted audits recently of its ice plants to ensure its compliance with health and safety regulations.
The board said a number of issues requiring immediate attention have now arisen from these audits.
BIM has ordered the immediate - but what it hopes will be temporary - closure of the three major ice plants so works can be done.
In a letter to trawler captains, BIM said it is working to get the health and safety issues rectified immediately and is focused on re-starting ice production as soon as possible at the ice plants.
