The deal agreed in Brussels will be worth an additional £10million next year to Scotland’s white-fish and prawn fleets, Fishing Secretary Richard Lochhead said yesterday.
It will bring the total annual economic value of these fleets to around £210million, he added.
Speaking as he left Belgium after the talks on Monday and Tuesday, Mr Lochhead said: “This is an increase of almost 5% on top of the current value of £200million.
“It will bring more economic stability not just to our fishing fleet but to the onshore sector and many in the coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on it.
“Coupled with decreasing fuel costs, this will hopefully provide a bit of welcome respite from the more challenging economic conditions our fishing industry has been facing over the past few years.”
Scottish Secretary and northern isles MP Alistair Carmichael has described the deal as “one that we can work with”.
But he also warned that any benefit from the deal could be lost unless the European Commission listens to fishing industry concerns about the new discard ban.
Scots Tory MEP Ian Duncan added: “Although the newly agreed quotas contain the usual mix of increases and decreases, in the main these fluctuations are manageable.”