The initiative is designed to help the Scottish fleet adjust to the current high fuel prices, to promote resilience to the difficult circumstances and encourage fuel efficiency in the catching sector.

Resources to support the programme will be made available by the Scottish Government but it warns that the scope of the plan will depend on securing additional aid from the UK Government and the European Union.

At a meeting with industry representatives today to take the fuel plan forward Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said:

"The Scottish Government is determined to support our fishing communities in the face of rising fuel costs that continue to undermine the industry's recent optimism.

"Today, the Fuel Task Force reports back to a special meeting of the Scottish Fisheries Council. We will now work with the industry to deliver a range of measures to ensure we retain a sustainable and profitable fishing industry. It is my hope that we can have the core of a three year package ready in a matter of weeks.

"Given the urgency, we agree with the industry that the first measures must be put in place as soon as possible. Clearly, the overall scope and nature of our package will be dependent on the UK Government's willingness to provide aid and also the outcome of the forthcoming EU Fisheries Council in Brussels on July 15 that will agree EU measures.

"We will be demanding that the EU's own package benefits Scotland. And we continue to demand a share of the extra revenue enjoyed by the UK Treasury as a result of high fuel prices so we can help key sectors such as fishing.

"In the meantime, we are seeking to bring forward resources from Scotland's existing share of the European Fisheries Fund and will seek to identify other resources that can be made available."

This comes after the Scottish Government last month established a Fuel Task Force to develop fuel efficiency measures for the fishing industry.