Want monkfish? Irish fisherman gives away 130 boxes of fish in protest

100 boxes of the meaty fish up for grabs

A Co Wexford fisherman gave away 130 boxes of monkfish this morning in protest at EU fishing quotas, which he said force him to throw fish he's caught back into the sea.

Seamus O'Flaherty, of the vessel Saltee's Quest, told RTE Radio's Morning Ireland that he couldn't sell the fish but announced he would be giving it away later in the morning on Kilmore Quay.

He told the programme the monkfish population has been increasing over the past few years and fishermen can't help but catch them.

This was the scene shortly after 11am on Kilmore Quay, after the catch was unloaded:

Image: Alan Hinchy, shared by Niall Duffy

There was a Garda presence at the scene to prevent breaches of the peace, the Garda Press Office said.

The EU Common Fisheries Policy sets quotas, which detail the number of fish each member state can catch.