Fishermen in Co Cork, Ireland, who successfully disrupted plans by the Russian Navy to carry out military exercises in January say they plan to prevent a French military exercise due to take place later this week.

In a statement this evening, CEO of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation Patrick Murphy said they are calling on the Irish and French governments to have the planned exercises relocated outside of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Mr Murphy said they are discussing plans to protest peacefully near where the military exercises are due to take place.

“It is our understanding that live fire exercise cannot take place if our vessels are engaged in fishing in the area, so we are discussing a plan with our vessel owners and skippers aimed at once again carrying out a peaceful protest in our traditional fishing areas near the proposed area of the military exercise,” he said.

Mr Murphy said military sonar and live missile launches have the potential to severely disrupt the annual migratory path of fish and interrupt the breeding season of mackerel and other species.