The Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation says French military exercises due to take place off the south coast are now scheduled to start in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The group says it had been initially told the exercises were to begin on June 23rd.
However, it says it’s now been advised by the Department of Transport that these activities will begin at 2 o’clock tomorrow morning.
The organisation plans to hold peaceful protests against the exercises, which it describes as unnecessary, and is calling for a moratorium on such activities for 10 years in Irish waters.
Earlier this year, the same group persuaded Russia to abandon its plans for exercises in international waters off the Cork coast.
The Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation says its main objection to the proposed military exercises is on environmental grounds.
CEO Patrick Murphy says they believe live fire exercises would cause untold damage to marine wildlife such as whales and dolphins that are greatly affected by underwater noise.
He also points out that the Albacore tuna fishery is due to open on June 23rd.
