The fishing talks went on through the night Skippers' reaction

A deal was reached to make cuts of 18% to fishing days off the west coast of Scotland and 10% in the North Sea, with an 11% rise in the North Sea cod catch.

Crews will also be "given back" days at sea for helping conservation measures.

Fishing leaders said it was a balanced deal, however some skippers said they seemed to be faced with a scenario of "more cuts, more cuts".

This is exactly the kind of fresh start we promised for the industry Richard Lochhead Rural Affairs Secretary Christmas cheer for skippers?

It is the first time such a conservation credit scheme has been approved by the European Commission.

Scotland is also to be given more control over the allocation of days at sea.

Among other deals were Rockall haddock quotas up 50% and North Sea megrim up 8%, however the pelagic fleet faces cuts in herring and mackerel.

'Be rewarded'

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said after the all-nights talks into Wednesday morning: "This year's deal represents a new approach to fisheries conservation.

"As a direct result of the leadership shown by the Scottish Government and the Scottish industry, a new system which we will call Conservation Credits will be introduced.

"This means Scotland's fishermen will be rewarded for their commitment to sustainable fishing practices. We can do this because of our success in persuading Europe to pass responsibility of the management of fishing effort to the Scottish Government."

Our new approach this year has been to seek more intelligent ways of meeting cod avoidance Bertie Armstrong Scottish Fishermen's Federation

He added: "This is a great example of the Scottish Government working hand-in-hand with the industry to create a sustainable future for fishing. This is exactly the kind of fresh start we promised for the industry."

Mike Park, executive chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA), told BBC Scotland from Brussels he thought it was a deal skippers in North East Scotland could live with.

He said: "Overall we think we have a fairly balanced deal. We have worked long and hard on this.

"I think what we have achieved is a deal that no other member state is getting thanks to good measures and the good practices we have developed."

'Stakes high'

Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: "Our new approach this year has been to seek more intelligent ways of meeting cod avoidance.

"We welcome that a Scottish administered scheme has been agreed, which will provide flexibility to effort management and provide incentives for Scottish skippers to adopt targeted and effective fisheries conservation measures."

Helen McLachlan, senior marine policy officer at WWF Scotland, said: "This is the fishing industry's big chance to show they can deliver on their claims of being able to fish more selectively and sustainably.

Fishermen raised concerns over how communities would cope

"If successful, the 2008 measures will give the much needed break that cod needs and help the stock replenish. However, if the fishermen fail to implement cod avoidance plans, we will have wasted the only chance at recovery since 1997.

"The stakes are high - let's hope they can deliver."

One skipper in Peterhead told BBC Scotland after hearing the news: "It's sad, same again, more cuts, more cuts, every year we do more for conservation, it's hard to see what more we can do."

Responding to positive reaction, another said: "If Mike Park is saying this we hope he is correct.

"We have done so much, more cuts in days would be a disaster. It's less pay for crews and that feeds right back into the community."

RSPB Scotland branded the deal a "gamble" on fishing stocks.

Mark Ruskell, marine and coastal policy officer for RSPB Scotland, said: "We welcome the expansion of conservation measures, but so far the uptake of similar schemes to avoid vulnerable cod have been very poor.