Southeast scallop fishermen have suspended further protest action, following an agreement to work with the Government's facilitator, Padraic White.
Mr White, a former IDA chief executive, was appointed last week by Minister of State for the Marine Pat the Cope Gallagher to carry out a review of decommissioning requirements for Irish fishing vessels.
The scallop fleet, which has not been eligible for aid so far, is to be included in the study.
The Minister's move aimed to avert further action by the scallop fishermen who blockaded Rosslare and Waterford ports over a week ago to highlight restrictions on their fishery. The 19 vessel-owners, mainly based in Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford, had won the support of fish-processors, who warned that up to 500 jobs in the region could be at risk over the restrictions.
Irish South and East Fishermen's Organisation chief executive Michael Walsh and Irish Fishermen's Organisation chairman Joe Maddock met Mr White in Kilmore Quay on Monday to discuss the terms of reference for the review.
Following this discussion, fishermen agreed to co-operate, but with certain conditions. "The fishermen are still angry, their backs are to the wall, but they have full confidence in Mr White and in his knowledge of the fishing industry," Mr Walsh said.
"He assured us at the meeting that he had an open mandate, but the fishermen fear that his recommendations will either be ignored by the Minister's department or introduced selectively."
Mr Walsh said a complicating factor was that the deadline of June 30th for Mr White's review coincided with the deadline for scallop vessels over 24 metres in length to comply with EU safety requirements.
The Minister has committed no extra money to allow for decommissioning scallop vessels, but Mr White's review aims to look at the entire whitefish fleet and its viability in relation to available fish resources.
