The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, is expected to maintain his tough stance on monitoring Irish tuna vessels when he meets fishing industry representatives tomorrow.
However, he has promised to contact his French and Spanish counterparts on inspection of their tuna fleet's activities outside the 200-mile limit, and has said he intends to ask the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, to "beef up" Naval Service/Air Corps monitoring of other vessels within the Irish exclusive economic zone.
A wide range of issues will be raised by the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation (IS&WFO) at tomorrow's meeting in Castletownbere.
Mr Jason Whooley of the IS&WFO said his organisation would impress on the Minister the need for a second whitefish fleet renewal package, similar to the first initiated by Mr Fahey's predecessor. The IS&WFO would also press for even-handed control and surveillance.
A move by the EU to place restrictions on unexploited species targeted by Irish vessels will also be raised. "It is another example, similar to the tuna, where as soon as Irish vessels show an interest in a new opportunity controls are slapped on us," Mr Whooley said.
