The Fuel Task Force, part of the Scottish Government's five-point action plan to combat the impact of fuel costs on fishermen, met for the first time in Edinburgh.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said that there was a need to ensure the renewed confidence that has developed in the fishing industry over the past year is not undone by increased fuel prices.

He said: "That's why I recently announced an action plan to help the industry cope. As well as making money available immediately for non-fuel costs, I also established the Fuel Task Force to look at what else can be done in the short and medium term to give the sector a profitable and sustainable future.

“The Task Force begins its work today and I will be looking for it to bring forward ideas quickly. I expect it to identify actions not only for the Scottish Government but also for the UK Government, which has the ability to reduce fuel costs, and for Europe.

“I will be meeting with James Brown [Vice President of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation], the Task Force chairman, early next week to find out what issues were discussed at the first meeting and to share thoughts about the way forward."

The Fuel Task Force was announced on May 12 as part of a five-point action plan to help the Scottish fishing sector counter the effects of rising fuel costs.

Coinciding with the task force meeting is the release of provisional figures published today by the Scottish Government that indicate a four per cent increase in the value of fish catches landed by Scottish vessels in 2007.

The statistics show that 370,000 tonnes of fish were caught by Scottish vessels last year, with a value of £380m.

Other findings include the value of shellfish landings increased by 16 per cent to £163m and the volume increased by 13 per cent to 67,000 tonnes.

High value shellfish landings formed 18 per cent of the total by weight but 42 per cent by value, making shellfish the most valuable sector to the Scottish fleet.

This figures also found there were 2,191 active fishing vessels based in Scotland at the end of 2007, a net reduction of 33 (one per cent) since 2006.

Since 2000, the number of vessels over 10 metres in length has decreased reflecting the impact of two decommissioning schemes in 2001 and 2003, which gave grants to owners in the Scottish whitefish fleet to decommission their vessel and surrender their fishing licence.

Provisional employment figures indicate an increase in the number of fishermen of 4 per cent between 2006 to 2007 to reach 5,435.

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