Irish fisherman Pat O’Donnell is challenging Shell EP Ireland after the oil company asked him to remove his gear for offshore works.

Shell EP Ireland sent a letter to Mr O’Donnel and his two brothers and son, asking them to temporarily relocate their gear. Shell also offered compensation for the disruption, the Irish Times reported.

Mr O’Donnell and his family have some 3,000 crab pots in Broadhaven Bay, where Shell EP Ireland is scheduled to begin pipelaying at the end of August.

Mr O’Donnell’s lawyers have advised that the company had no legal authority to remove his fishing gear. Mr O’Donnell said that while he had no wish for conflict with Shell, he asked the company to “demonstrate its lawful authority to remove his gear.”