Fishing communities 'face threat'

Industry leaders warn cuts could hit communities and jobs

Fishermen are warning dozens of fragile communities could be devastated under EU proposals to close down the fishing industry off Scotland's west coast.

The plans would ban fishing for cod, haddock and whiting.

But the scheme, discussed in Brussels this week, could also force more than 300 prawn boats out of business.

EU scientists say stocks of white fish are so low off the west of Scotland that trawling for these species should be banned altogether.

They have also called for modifications to the nets of hundreds of tiny prawn boats which could help cod and haddock to escape.

But skippers claim the idea is completely impractical and warn that if the plans were implemented they would have no option but to tie up for good.

Prawns are now the mainstay of many small west coast fishing villages from Shetland to Stranraer and the moves could wipe out hundreds of onshore processing jobs too.

Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead has branded the proposals outrageous and will oppose the shutdown when he heads for Europe's annual fisheries negotiations on Tuesday.