Foreign fishing vessels are being prevented from entering Irish ports in the south and west of the country it has been reported today.
The unofficial move follows anger at the outcome of last week's EU fisheries council which loosened the restrictions in the Irish Box for foreign fishing vessels.
Members of the fishing unions had appealed for calm ahead of a meeting with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, next Thursday.
However, the current list system for Spanish vessels expires tomorrow, and the Spanish government has not yet submitted a new list, suggesting it now intends to ignore the 40-vessel restriction.