The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has called for an urgent meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries over the growing crisis in the fishing industry.
The call comes as fishermen continued their blockade of Cork Port.
Earlier today, fishermen protesting over rising fuel prices and cheap fish imports began a blockade at the entrance to the harbour at Cork Port, affecting both in-bound and out-bound commercial traffic.
Demonstrations also took place in Galway, Waterford, and in Dingle, Co Kerry, where French-registered Spanish vessels were prevented from landing fish.
Fishermen have also warned that they will escalate their action with a demonstration outside the offices of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority in Clonakilty, Co Cork tomorrow. The office is near the Department of Marine.
In a statement, the FIF said many fishermen were facing economic ruin, and while it was aware of the anger and frustration of those involved, it did not endorse or condone recent unofficial actions.
The federation called on Ministers Brendan Smith and Tony Killeen to make progress on the key issues that are due to be examined at a meeting of the Council of Fisheries on June 23rd.
In relation to the current rise in fuel prices, the FIF has renewed its call for temporary tie-up aid and a ban on Illegal Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) products entering the EU.
The FIF is an umbrella organisation for the four main Irish fish producer organisations representing over 90 per cent of the Irish fishing fleet with vessels over 12 metres.
Labour’s spokesperson on the marine, Senator Michael McCarthy called on the Government to make an immediate intervention in the growing dispute.
Mr McCarthy described the industry as on the brink of collapse. "It is time that Ministers Smith and Killeen showed some common sense in this matter. How much further does the campaign of fishermen have to escalate before the Ministers sit up and take notice? “ he said.
Fine Gael’s spokesman on agriculture and fisheries accused the Mr Smith of being “missing in action” over the crisis.
Michael Creed said there seemed to be no indication that the Government recognised the seriousness of the crisis facing the fishing industry.
Last week, the FIF marched to Leinster House in Dublin and 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 claims 50 to 70 per cent of a trawler’s turnover is being spent on fuel. 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 organisation also wants stricter controls on traceability so consumers can see where the fish they are buying was caught.