By Phil Goodlad BBC's Good Morning Scotland reporter

Peter Bruce - the philosopher, the fisherman. As skipper of the Peterhead trawler Budding Rose he's grown to hate this time of year.

Peterhead fishing boats have declined dramatically

"Everybody is looking forward to Christmas. We're looking to Brussels and dreading it," he said.

No other place is more affected by the EU end of year talks than Peterhead, Europe's biggest whitefish landing port.

The town's 20,000 population live around fishing. Fisherman catch, quayside workers land, ice-factories chill, buyers purchase. That's just scratching the surface though.

The shops, bars and restaurants all operate with one simple formula: no fish = no money, no money = no trade.

Over the last decade the "Blue Toon" has suffered more than most. Decommissioning has reduced the Scottish whitefish fleet by two thirds. Peterhead boats now number about 40.

You could count 150 seven years ago.

'More optimistic'

Eddie Smith left the industry. The former skipper used to catch fish - he now frys them in the town's Blue Dolphin caf�.

"There's no future in the industry so I got out. How could I make a living when I wasn't allowed to catch? And what I did catch I had to chuck over the side," he said.

So how will the latest decision made in Brussels affect Scotland's most fish dependant community? Peter Bruce says not too badly.

"Initially when I heard days at sea cut I was worried and angry. Now though, seeing the detail, I'm more optimistic."