And it is looking increasingly likely that vessel owners will be paid up £8,000 (10,000 euros) a month to stay in port - a move which would by its nature reduce fuel bills.

According to the Financial Times recently, this is the avenue which the European Commission has been exploring since French and Spanish fishermen in particular rioted over soaring fuel costs last month.

The Commission sees this as a way of both calming tempers and the urgent need to reducing fishing effort and therefore protect dwindling stocks among the 27 member states

There has also been pressure from the UK industry - and Scotland in particular - for the European Commission to act on diesel which has more than doubled in price over the last 15 months. The money paid by Europe would be used to partly cover the cost of loans on trawlers and crew wages over a three month period in any one year.

The Commission, which wants to see many fewer fishing boats, is expected to ratify the proposals in the next few days. Although down the years they have been offered cash incentives to scrap boats, fishing is the only activity most skippers and crewmen know and they often have difficulty in re-adjusting to life and a new career ashore.

Fishermen may also be given help to equip their boats with small and more fuel efficient engines.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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