Could the Irish not put something like a fishing fleet in the area of the exercise to scupper it.
Which is exactly what the fishermen have said they are going to do….
The Russian embassy in Dublin yesterday said it understood the fishing sector’s concerns about the integrity of marine resources but that there was no grounds to believe its naval drills next month would impact the biodiversity of the ocean.
“At the same time we would think that any attempts to interfere with military exercises would be [a] reckless and irresponsible act which could put in harm’s way both sailors and fishermen,” a spokesman said. “All that has been explained to the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (ISWFPO ).”
Yestereday the head of ISWFPO said the Russian navy was “not welcome” and that fishing vessels would continue to operate in the region as part of a peaceful protest against the six-day military exercise.
Patrick Murphy, ISWFPO chief executive, confirmed he had been contacted by the Russian embassy and told that attempts to interfere with the exercise would be “reckless”.
“We’re not going out there to challenge the Russian navy or take on a warship,” he said. “We’re going fishing in our fishing zones and if they feel like we’re interfering with their activities, tough. We’re not moving and that is our right to peaceful protest.”
Leo Varadkar yesterday urged fishing vessels that plan to peacefully disrupt the Russian navy’s military drills not put themselves at risk……
“I suppose I would just say to them that these are military vessels,” the tanaiste said. “Whatever they choose to do in terms of any protests, just make sure that they don’t put themselves at risk.”