THE EU must support a "pan-European" response to the crisis affecting the fishing industry, Minister of State for Fisheries Tony Killeen has said.
However, EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg is expected to defer any decision on specific funding, if any, for emergency measures until next month's fisheries council.
Action on illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries measures may be agreed by European fisheries ministers at today's council in Luxembourg, which Mr Killeen and his senior counterpart, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Brendan Smith, are attending.
Mr Killeen told the Dáil last week that an estimated €1.1 billion worth of illegal fish products was entering the EU annually.
The escalating price of fuel, coupled with the impact of non-EU imports, has led to protests by fishing skippers and crew across Europe. A threatened blockade of Irish ports has been suspended, pending the outcome of this week's fisheries council.
Fishermen involved in the recent protests at Cork, Waterford and Galway ports are due to meet next Monday to consider their position.
Mr Killeen, who met protesters and representatives of the Federation of Irish Fishermen in Athlone earlier this month, has already moved to address some serious domestic concerns.
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has agreed to a "fresh start" and has committed to a more equitable monitoring system, and Mr Killeen is setting up a marketing initiative for Irish seafood, with a working group chaired by Bórd Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) chief executive Jason Whooley.
The fishermen's federation is also seeking substantive action on introducing administrative sanctions for minor fisheries offences.
The federation said it was sceptical about last week's "announcement" by the EU in Brussels of emergency aid, and said that it was essential that any such proposal should be backed up by significant funding.
It said that a series of immediate measures, including tie-up aid to tide vessels over during the fuel price crisis, must be agreed this week.
"The Irish Government's package, including additional funding - from whatever source - must in turn be announced before the end of this week," the federation has said.
"This was the timetable we were promised and this is the timetable that must be delivered.
"Securing the scientifically supported increases in present year quota for Celtic Sea cod is another priority that cannot be lost sight of", it said.
The Federation of Irish Fishermen comprises the four main industry organisations, and represents over 90 per cent of vessels over 12 metres.