The fishermen are claiming that fishing quotas are unfair

Three representatives from the Sussex fleet, which has 29 small boats, attended the meeting with the Prime Minister and Michael Foster MP.

They want environmentally-friendly small vessels to have a bigger share of fishing quotas.

Fishing boats in Hastings are crewed by about 65 fishermen, but the trade generates about 600 jobs in the town.

Mr Foster said large vessels more than 10 metres long could take 96% of the quota but smaller boats, under 10 metres, had 3% of the quota.

What is needed is a fairer proportion Paul Joy

He said "inadequacies need to be addressed in order to secure the financial viability of smaller, environmentally-friendly fishing vessels".

Paul Joy, chairman of the Hastings Fishermen's Protection Society, said: "What is needed is a fairer proportion."

He said larger fish producers often did not use their full quota, but smaller vessels were not allowed to lease it or buy it off them.

This month, the European Commission called for cuts in catches of cod, herring, plaice, whiting and haddock for 2007.

It said there had been no significant improvement in cod stocks.