How Irish fishermen took action against the Russian fleet....

.... and won

The action shows how civil outrage can force governments to act. In this case, it was a Russian naval manoeuvre. One group has now shown how to do it.

When Russia announced its intention to carry out manoeuvres with warships off the Irish coast, Irish fishermen developed such an effective deterrent that the Russian navy cancelled the exercise. The exercise was originally due to take place in Ireland's fishing and economic zone from 3 February. Irish officials said the exercise was "not welcome and not wanted" but were apparently unable to persuade their Russian counterparts to hold it elsewhere. Although the Irish government repeatedly urged Russia to move the exercise - citing, among other things, the unique marine life in the area - it made no headway. The Russian ambassador to Ireland, Yuri Filatov, said last week: "There is no cause for alarm, concern or fear, and I have explained this in detail to our Irish counterparts."

The exercise was intolerable for Irish fishermen, who could lose a million tonnes of fish, said Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation. "This is about the livelihoods of fishermen and fishing families all along the coast," Murphy said. "It's our waters. Imagine if the Russians applied to the Irish mainland to launch missiles - how far would they get with that?"

Murphy announced that "the fishermen would disrupt the Russian fleet with their boats in a targeted and coordinated manner. Every day, boat after boat would go out to fish and ensure a constant presence with boats, he said. When one returns home, the next one leaves. If that's close to where the exercise is taking place, we expect the Russian naval services to abide by anti-collision rules." By having their boats permanently in the exercise waters, the fishermen would peacefully prevent the Russians from carrying out the exercise.

Their action had an effect. On 29 January, the Russians issued a declaration that they would not hinder the fishing activities of Irish vessels in traditional fishing areas. The Irish fishermen won against Moscow and showed how it's done. Their announcement of an "asymmetric" deterrent was a creative move and came as a real surprise. The success is perhaps a lesson for Western governments, said Elisabeth Braw of defenceone.com

She suggested that Ireland supporter Joe Biden should visit the Irish fishermen to thank them. For preventing another stand-off with Russia and to ask for advice on creative resistance.