A MAJOR protest against new fishing regulations proposed by the European Union is to be held at Dingle pier on Friday.

According to Lorc?n ? Cinn?ide, the chief executive of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, the protest, which forms part of a national day of action on the issue, is designed to show opposition to what he labelled the potential annihilation of the Irish fishing industry.

?If new regulations which are to be negotiated in Brussels next week are approved, then for the next 20 years, Spanish boats can fish in Irish waters without any limits being placed on them, while there will be massive cuts in the Irish fishing fleet,? Mr ? Cinn?ide explained.

?As well as that, there will be no effort to redress the imbalance regarding the Irish fishing quota which sees us have 11 per cent of the water, yet just five per cent of the quota. The length of time that Irish boats can be at sea will also be limited if these proposals are accepted.?

Mr ? Cinn?ide called on the entire community from Dingle and beyond to join the protest, which starts at noon, warning that the EU moves threaten not just the fishing industry, but the entire community.

?We want to see everyone there, from schoolchildren to the business people to all of the political representatives in Kerry,? he told The Kerryman.

?We want to see as many people there as possible to voice their strong opposition to this move.?