Irish and Spanish fishermen could come into direct conflict in the new year as the dispute over fishing rights in the Irish Box continues.
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Anger is mounting over the deal struck in Brussels on fish quotas.
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Fishermen's organisations have been joined by the Labour Party in warning of a possible confrontation over the confusion created by conflicting legal positions adopted by Irish and Spanish governments.
Joining with the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation and the Irish Fish Producers in their criticism of the Minister, Mr Jason Whooley of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation said his members were "very unhappy".
"The failure to deal with the Irish box will undoubtedly lead to increased tensions around the coast from January 1," he said.
Saying a "very dangerous uncertainty" had been created by a failure to address the issue, he warned of possible tensions at sea: "We are going to have a very serious situation on the ground, very serious, with tensions between trawlers".
Mr Tommy Broughan, Labour marine spokesperson, also warned of conflict, blaming the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern for failing to secure a firm EU commitment on the status of the Irish Box.
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There was no firm agreement reached at EU talks on the matter last week and now both states are adopting different positions in the absence of a definitive ruling.
The Government says its legal advice is that only 40 Spanish vessels are allowed into the 50-mile zone but the Spanish believe they have unlimited access from January 1st. There are reports of an 'armada' of Spanish vessels preparing to set sail from Morrocco bound for Ireland.
Mr Broughan said the uncertainty "poses a serious threat to the immediate future of the Irish fishing industry [and] may also lead to damaging confrontations between the Irish and Spanish fishing fleets in the new year".
"Reports of a Spanish armada of large trawlers waiting in port in Northern Spain and Morocco for just such an uncertain outcome, are an ominous sign that the government has again failed to protect our key natural resource of fisheries," he added.
The fishermen are also angry at comments made at the weekend by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern.
Industry representatives have accused Mr Ahern of putting a "positive spin" on the deal after he called it the "best possible against the odds".
Fishermen from the south and east of the country are meeting in Castletownbere, Co Cork, today to discuss the situation.