Northern Ireland's fishermen today threatened to blockade all the major ports in the north if the government does not take action to address the crisis facing the industry.
The 130 strong fleet is set to cut off shipping access into Belfast, Larne and other main ports if fisheries minister Michelle Gildernew does not respond positively to calls for financial aid by the end of the month.
Director of the Northern Ireland Trawlerman's Trading Company, Adrian Coffey
Industry representatives, the Northern Ireland Trawlerman's Trading Company revealed that fishermen, who picketed outside Stormont today, had agreed to consider more militant action if the minister failed to act.
Director of NITTC, Adrian Coffey claimed Ms Gildernew had ignored their repeated requests for state aid.
"The fishermen have agreed to give the minister until March 31st to come back with something positive," he said. "And if that doesn't happen we are going to take further steps. A blockade of all the ports in Northern Ireland is one of those options. That would be Belfast, Carlingford, Larne, all the way round the province."
Mr Coffey said while Ms Gildernew was restricted by the EU in her ability to provide direct subsidies to fishermen she did have the power to temporarily exempt them from certain duties, such as harbour and light dues.
He said stringent catch restrictions combined with a 350 per cent hike in marine fuel prices in the last three years has forced the north's entire fleet to the edge of extinction, putting 3,500 jobs at risk.
He claimed all the authorities seemed to worry about was policing fishermen to ensure they didn't catch more than their entitlement, while little was done to help relieve the financial crisis the industry faces.
"There's less monitoring of terrorists, paedophiles and sex offenders than the fishermen," he said. "And they're guilty before they are charged. But while all this money is spent policing catches and restricted zones at sea the industry is going down the tubes."
PA