The Department of the Marine has asked the European Commission to halt "scientific trials" which the Spanish government has licensed unilaterally in Irish waters.
A vessel which argued that it was involved in the trials was released without charge after its detention by the Naval Service last week. The Rosaris was apprehended 180 miles southwest of Bantry Bay by the LE Niamh for alleged fishing with undersized gill nets and was escorted into Cobh, Co Cork.
A Department of the Marine spokesman said the Government did not believe the research was necessary, and had already raised the issue with the European Commission. "We asked for the commission's intervention so that the conservation priority is recognised and fully supported at European level," the spokesman said. The issue was one of "huge concern".
Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation manager Jason Whooley said the organisation had already highlighted a situation where French-registered fishing vessels were using "bogus scientific trials" to "cover their illegal activities".
"We were assured that the practice had been stopped. Now it appears that Spanish vessels have pulled the same stunt, and have been granted permission from someone to use mesh sizes that are 20 per cent smaller than the minimum size allowed in EU regulations."
