The Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, has warned of an "uphill battle" at today's EU fisheries council in Luxembourg when a compromise Irish Box proposal is on the agenda.
Fishing industry organisations have urged the Minister not to accept a "flawed" compromise which could lead to an increase in fishing in Irish waters and could prove to be impossible to control.
The Minister said yesterday that the compromise tabled by the EU Italian presidency did not satisfy Ireland's demands on fishing rights.
The new proposal would replace the existing Irish Box provisions 50 miles off the coastline, which previously restricted the number of Spanish vessels licensed to work in the sensitive biological area. Negotiations on a regime to protect the area have been continuing since the European Commission brought forward a proposal last December to eradicate the Irish Box - without any alternative provisions to protect the sensitive waters around Ireland.
Mr Ahern said that he had been campaigning since the beginning of the year with member-states and the presidency of the fisheries council - and particularly with Commissioner Franz Fischler - to put in place alternative measures that would protect the important spawning grounds and juvenile areas around Ireland for key whitefish stocks. The Italian presidency involves designating a new biologically sensitive zone off the south and west coast of Ireland, similar to the existing zone designated for hake recovery plans.
"In my view the compromise does not adequately address all of Ireland's concerns," he said. "As well as seeking an extension of the sensitive zone to cover waters on the east and north of Ireland, I am also seeking improved control provisions and other technical adjustments to ensure that any regime in place provides the maximum protection to stocks in our waters."
The Minister said he had arranged a meeting with Commissioner Fischler to push for improvements to the compromise, and he would also be meeting Mr Alemanno, the Italian President of the Council.