The fishing industry is bracing itself as vital negotiations get under way to thrash out conservation measures which will be imposed on the Scottish fishing fleet.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead is in Brussels for the talks with European ministers. It's the start of a series of meetings that will see new rules on net sizes and debate how the thorny issue of discards is tackled.

There is huge frustration among skippers who are forced to throw back fish they have caught, dead into the sea, if they don't have quota for a particular species.

Some fishermen have already exhausted this year's catch limits, which means their boats could be tied up for months.

Skipper James Thores said: “This is the worst the situation I’ve seen in my fishing career. We’re now in a worse situation than when we were catching black fish.

“We’re having to dump so much fish to satisfy the bureaucrats in Brussels. Surely something has to be done about it.”

Meanwhile, talks began this week to set catch limits for the year ahead. The Fisheries Secretary believes it should be pay back time for the Scottish fleet.

"One key message that I'll be taking to Brussels, and indeed to the UK Government, is that Scotland has to have a reward for bending over backwards to conserve fish stocks. We have led the way in terms of European fisheries conservation," Mr Lochhead said.

"It's about time that our fishermen had much more of an award for doing that and that is certainly what we'll be seeking. What has been difficult over many years is the macro-management of the fishing measures that are agreed in Brussels. We should be taking these decisions closer to home."

Negotiations in Bergen this week have focussed on white fish catches, the mainstay of the Scottish fleet. Further talks will be held before the European Council of Ministers gather in Brussels in December to finally thrash out regulations and quotas for the year ahead.

"We have to balance the long term sustainability of our fish stocks with the needs of our fishermen to go to sea and make a living." Mr Lochhead said.
"We are working hand in hand with our fishing industry to come up with the best solutions to allow that to happen, to safeguard Scotland's fish stocks and allow our fleet to make a living in 2010."

Industry leaders say further cuts to quotas would be highly detrimental to the industry. The reformed fishing campaigners the Cod Crusaders say they've been swamped with hundreds of letters and emails from fishermen who believe those in power have let them down.

"I didn't particularly want to come back and fight this battle once again," said Carol MacDonald. "But because we have been asked by so many fishermen, and reading some of the feedback we have got here it is just so heartbreaking, no-one else seems to be helping the fishing community."