The industry says it intends to make it clear the damage that is being done to a recently optimistic industry by the "relentless" rises in fuel costs and to discuss realistic ways ahead. The timing of the meeting should allow time for the Scottish Government to investigate possible solutions, the federation said today.

Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “The world price of fuel is not set by this government and a fuel subsidy is neither possible nor demanded.

“However a realistic package of survivability measures is achievable. We are asking for transparency over the kind of measures that our European commercial competitors in the French and Spanish fleets are receiving. If competition rules are being breached, than they must be challenged right now, but if it is innovative and legal measures that are being utilised, then they must be matched.

“We are not asking for special treatment but for a level playing field. Following some painful changes including major decommissioning, real progress has been made in sustainable fishing, under a carefully developed programme of cooperation between the Scottish industry, science and government. We must not let this investment in the future slip away.”

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