Stihler said she had been “alarmed” by a recent report from the RSPB on the disastrous breeding season for seabirds. She continued: “Scotland’s coastline supports nearly half (45 per cent) of the European Union’s seabird breeding population and breeding problems on this scale have the potential for serious maritime consequences.

“I have been working closely with the RSPB in order to press the European Commission to take immediate action on the issues surrounding the decline of seabirds.”

Stihler, who is Euro Labour Fisheries spokesperson, said she has regularly questioned the Fisheries Committee and also met Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg in Strasbourg in April to discuss the issue of seabird ‘bycatch’, whereby seabird, attracted to bait, get attached to longlinie hooks, dragged underwater and drown.

She said: “The outcome of that meeting was extremely disappointing, as whilst the Commissioner was sympathetic, he did not foresee developing an action plan on bycatch before 2009.”

However, Stihler said that she has been contacted by a great deal of concerned constituents over the issue, particularly its impact on albatross populations, and urged the Commission to bring forward the plan.

She continued: “According to BirdLife International, more than a billion hooks are set annually by the world’s longline fleets, killing at least 300,000 seabirds, including about 100,000 albatrosses.

“Largely as a result of this mortality, the proportion of albatross species now threatened with the extinction increased from around 30 per cent to 90 per cent between 1994 and 2004.

“I have now tabled a parliamentary question asking whether in the light of the urgency of declining seabird populations and heightened public awareness, the Commission will bring forward a seabird bycatch plan. Anyone looking for up-to-date information on this matter should contact my office.”