Irish fishing industry organisations supported French colleagues in the port of Boulogne yesterday as part of European-wide demonstrations over the EU's review of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Three representatives of the Irish South and West Fish Producers' Organisation (IS&WFPO), the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation and the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation travelled to Boulogne as a gesture of support. No Irish boats were present for "purely practical reasons", according to the organisations which have planned a day of action in ports here tomorrow.
The Taoiseach said in the Dáil yesterday he would raise the fisheries issue "on the margins" of the EU summit in Copenhagen, in response to a question from Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny.
However, the fish policy review is not on the agenda for the summit, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which stresses that the main issue being discussed is EU enlargement.
Over 60 boats took part in the blockade in Boulogne, according to Mr Jason Whooley of the IS&WFPO and Mr Lorcan O Cinneide of the IFPO, who witnessed the protest. More than 100 fishing boats blockaded three key Channel ports - Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk - delaying shipping in a protest against fish catch quotas imposed by the EU.
Passenger ferry and shipping traffic across the Channel was disrupted.
Hundreds of fishermen, travelled to Boulogne from Britain, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands to show their solidarity with their French counterparts.
Similar protests were taking place elsewhere, with flares being fired and logbooks burned.
In Zeebrugge, Belgium, about 100 fishermen took part in a march, while in Britain a flotilla of about 30 boats gathered at the mouth of the Tyne before sailing upstream,
The key EU council on quotas will be dominated next week by the review of the Common Fisheries Policy, which has aroused widespread opposition throughout Europe.
However, member-states are split on the issue, with northern states largely agreeing to decommissioning in return for compensation, and southern states - with Ireland among them - opposing the dropping of State subsidies for new vessels.
Retention of the 50-mile Irish Box will also be a key issue for the Government.
