Fishing skippers involved in alleged clashes with other vessels at sea have been urged to use the new "emergency" response system established by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, six months ago.
The Minister's appeal followed a promised investigation into an incident earlier this week in which an Irish vessel was harassed by a 90ft French flagship 20 miles south-west of Baltimore.
The incident, which was raised with EU Commission officials at yesterday's Common Fisheries Policy review meeting in Cork, resulted in £3,500 worth of lost gear, Mr Tom Hassett of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation, said.
The skipper of the Baltimore-based vessel, Girl Jane, Mr Martin O'Driscoll, claimed he was towed backwards by a French-Spanish vessel for about 10 minutes. His nets were then hauled up by the flagship and cut free.