Fishermen are calling for a fresh vision to maintain the Scottish fleet and the communities it supports. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) spoke out as they prepared to meet First Minister Alex Salmond and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead in Aberdeen.

SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong highlighted issues for the next government, with less than three months to the Scottish election. He said: "This vision must identify what size and shape of fleet would serve Scotland best.

"The SFF believes that the new government should aspire to ensure, where realistically possible, the financial viability of the existing fleet by avoiding artificially-created and unnecessary reductions."

He called for a renewed focus on sustainable catches and added: "With a recession-driven retrenchment of publicly-funded activity, we must also make absolutely sure that fisheries science takes every advantage of the offer from industry to work in partnership with scientists to provide the data necessary for accurate stock assessment, thereby producing the best sustainable fishing opportunities.

"The next Government must also recognise the importance of fishing to our coastal communities and the economic infrastructure this valuable and sustainable industry supports. "We expect this to be visible in policy decisions. For example, planning decisions on renewable energy projects must take full account of the traditional users of the sea."

Mr Lochhead said he was looking forward to the meeting, adding: "We have many areas of common agreement, as we continue to address the flaws in Europe's Common Fisheries Policy, take action against fish discards and find innovative solutions to maximise the value of the Scottish catch."