The Minister for the Marine, Mr Dermot Ahern, has moved to defuse the row over increased fees at fishery harbours by signing revised charges into law.
However, the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO) says the increases are still punitive and represent a 300 per cent hike at a time when the industry is under severe pressure.
The new charges were announced yesterday, even as fishing industry representatives were meeting the Minister's officials on a separate issue - the current freeze on licensing vessels.
Some 13 charges have been modified and one proposed charge has been dropped altogether as a result of some 50 submissions. This relates to vessels which are tied up in port between fishing trips or are involved in fuel deliveries.
The Minister, Mr Ahern, said he has dropped entry fees for fishing vessels to less than a third of the proposed increase, and has approved a sliding scale of charges for vessels which are not licensed or registered.
He said he has also reduced the charge for multiple journey tickets in respect of ferry passengers to and from the Aran Island using Rossaveal harbour, Co Galway.
Mr Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation (IS&WFO) said his members would be meeting at the weekend to examine the revised fees.
