Fishermen warn of possible port blockade

Date Published: 12-Jun-2008

LOCAL fishermen have vowed to begin a blockade of Galway port this weekend if an emergency meeting between Fisheries Minister Brendan Smith and representatives of the industry does not return a satisfactory outcome.

The fishermen had intended to begin their blockade of the port yesterday (Wednesday), but postponed the escalation in their protest to await the conclusion of the special meeting.

Members of the fishing industry across the country and in Europe have been protesting for a number of weeks over the rising cost of fuel which they say has placed a huge financial burden on
them.

Galway fishermen began a peaceful protest in the local port last Monday when up to 20 trawlers sailed into the docks and threw down their anchors. They have stated they do not intend to return to
sea until the Irish government gives some commitment to helping them through the fuel cost crisis.

General Manager of the Galway & Aran Fishermens Co-Op Society, Seán Griffin confirmed that every fisherman who usually fishes off the Galway coast has now downed tools – this effectively means no fish have been caught off the Galway coast in the past week and this situation may continue for some
time.

“There are no boats out fishing at all at the moment –we have twenty trawlers in the port itself to demonstrate our issue and it has been agreed amongst us all that…