Fishing industry representatives are due to meet Department of Marine officials today over the controversial amnesty which will allow regulation of small inshore vessels under 12 metres in length.
Mr Lorcan Ó Cinneide of the Irish Fish Producers' Organisation (IFPO) has expressed concern about aspects of the scheme and has warned that the department is in danger of "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" in its handling of the issue.
Some owners would have invested thousands of euro in buying "tonnage" for vessels and subscribed to conservation schemes - only to find that they will now be competing with owners who ignored the regulations, did not support local conservation initiatives and are now being given an amnesty.
The scheme will apply to boats less than 12 metres in overall length, and not exceeding 20 gross registered tonnes.
Owners must confirm their vessels as safe and seaworthy, and applicants must have a record in sea fishing in the inshore sector in any two of the five years prior to January 1st, 2003. They must also be able to demonstrate a fishing record (by the applicant or immediate family) going back to 1990.
Applicants must own the boat and must not have full-time employment outside of the fishing industry.
The Minister said that a key aspect of the proposal is that those who successfully register under the scheme will not be permitted to trade, transfer or otherwise use the capacity of the boat. He also confirmed that the position in relation to inshore boats already licensed and registered will not be affected by this scheme, so those who took the legitimate route and bought tonnage will still be able to trade that tonnage.
