Fishermen are to continue their protest against high fuel prices and cheap fish imports today with a demonstration at Cork Airport and distribution of fish in Waterford, Donegal and Galway.
The protest at the airport's cargo terminal aims to highlight the negative impact on livelihoods of imported seafood, and is part of a Europe-wide series of demonstrations over both escalating fuel prices and non-EU imports.
Fish will also be offered to the public at quayside prices in Galway's Eyre Square, Dunmore East, Co Waterford, and Killybegs, Co Donegal.
Hundreds of vessels have been tied up in ports this week while yesterday several hundred representatives of four industry organisations affiliated with the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) staged a march to Leinster House in Dublin.
The federation is an umbrella organisation representing some 90 per cent of Irish fishing vessels over 12 metres in length.
It wants fleets to be paid not to go to sea as part of a temporary rota-based system regulating commercial fishing as fuel costs soar.
The federation has warned that unless the EU introduces subsidies for the industry, similar to those given to farmers and food producers, then huge numbers of fishermen face bankruptcy. The FIF claim 50 to 70 per cent of a trawler's turnover is being spent on fuel.
The organisation also wants stricter controls on traceability so consumers can see where the fish they are buying was caught.