Lochhead calls for fishing days at sea EU action

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead has called for the EU to stop cuts to the number of days that Scottish fishermen can spend at sea.

Ahead of annual talks in Brussels, Mr Lochhead criticised a delay in bringing forward proposals for a cuts freeze.

He also called for sanctions on Iceland and the Faroe Islands for over-fishing mackerel.

The talks, to be held later this month, will determine what Scottish fishermen are able to catch in 2013.

Mr Lochhead told MSPs: "The Cod Recovery Plan is supposed to promote conservation but threatens to leave long and winding trails of discarded fish across our seas."