Fish fight 'undermined' by Blair

Scientists say cod stocks are under threat

The prime minister has been accused of "undermining" the fight to save Scotland's fishing industry.

The Scottish National Party is angry that Tony Blair has stressed the case for conservation while Scotland's fishing industry fights a ban on white fish catches.

Fishermen are counting on politicians at Westminster and in Scotland to fight European plans to ban fishing in the North Sea.

Scotland's fisheries minister Ross Finnie has travelled to Brussels for talks aimed at averting the cuts.

Ross Finnie: "Playing hardball"

He has accused the European Commission of playing "hardball" after scientists recommended the complete closure of fishing grounds to conserve stocks.

He voiced hopes the commission's stance would soften during negotiations.

However, critics claimed that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has scuppered the talks by stressing the case for conservation.

The Scottish National Party said that was "undermining" Mr Finnie's position, and the Tories claim the prime minister is "beating a retreat".

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Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott - who quit as a minister over fishing - told the BBC his party colleague Mr Finnie "needs to win" the argument.

European Union scientists have called for a total ban on cod fishing in the North Sea and a moratorium on catching other species, such as haddock and whiting, where cod is often caught by mistake.

Those recommendations have been endorsed by a committee advising the European Commission.

However, European Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler has said he wants to explore options other than the closure of the fishing grounds.

Fishermen's leaders have warned that a ban could put most of Scotland's fishing fleet out of business, with the loss of between 10,000 and 15,000 jobs.

'Beating a retreat'

Mr Finnie has promised to fight the proposal.

But Mr Blair has already made it clear that the industry will need to "change and restructure".

The Scottish Executive insists it will be "setting the agenda" - even though, by law, UK ministers have the last word.

The SNP's Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland knows from bitter experience that Downing Street will sell Scotland's fishing communities down the river at the first opportunity in pursuit of wider European aims.

"Here we are now facing the biggest ever crisis facing Scottish fishing communities and Tony Blair, instead of getting behind Scotland's fishing minister Ross Finnie, appears to be undermining him."