The Irish Fishermen's Organisation is to seek an urgent meeting with the Minister of State for the Marine to discuss a "serious breach of trust" in the introduction of new salmon fishing regulations.
Mr Eamon Gilmore had given "a very specific commitment" that the 1997 driftnet season for salmon would close on the last day of July, the IFO said yesterday. This commitment is "being reneged on", according to the IFO, as the regulations leave the earlier closing dates unchanged.
Last week Mr Gilmore said there would be no change in the closing date and deferred the opening of the season to June 1st. He also announced a reduction in the maximum number of driftnet salmon licences from 847 to 773, and reduced the sea area in which salmon fishing is permitted from 12 to six nautical miles from baselines.