Rhona Brankin: Rejected compensation calls

But her amendment to a parliamentary motion, which removed a call for financial aid, was defeated by 52 votes to 55 - the first time the Scottish Executive has lost a vote.

A Scottish National Party amendment to provide financial support for fishermen during their 10-week voluntary tie up was passed by 55 votes to 51.

The original Conservative motion on Scotland's fishing industry, as amended by the SNP, was then passed on the casting vote of presiding officer Sir David Steel.

John Buchan, who has been leading Peterhead crews in the fight for compensation, was delighted by the result.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: "Hats off to the Scottish Parliament for seeing the logic in our argument, which the executive failed to do I'm afraid."

This is a fantastic decision for Scottish fishing and Scottish democracy

Richard Lochhead, SNP fisheries spokesman

And SNP leader John Swinney said he was very pleased with the outcome.

"I hope the Scottish Executive will now listen to the will of parliament, which has been very clearly expressed by parliament today, and ensure that there is a tie-up scheme brought forward that will safeguard the interests of Scottish fishermen," he said.

He said ministers now had "a democratic obligation" to bring forward such a scheme.

SNP fisheries spokesman Richard Lochhead added: "This is a fantastic decision for Scottish fishing and Scottish democracy.

"A compensated tie-up scheme must be introduced now to save the Scottish fishing industry."

Common sense

Scottish Tory fisheries spokesman Jamie McGrigor, who brought forward the motion, said he was "elated".

He said it was "a victory for common sense, and a victory for Scotland's fishermen, who have stood up for their industry through thick and thin.

"I believe the most sensible solution now is for the executive to revisit the formula suggested by the Scottish Fisherman's Federation, and to use at least �5m of the �25m for immediate short term aid for the tie up programme."

Industry leaders had called for a compensation package of between �7m and �10m to tie up vessels until the end of April.

Major ports saw no fish landings

Fishermen said they had been forced to fish in haddock nursery grounds after the European Commission closed off 40,000 square miles of the North Sea to preserve cod stocks.

They pressed their case for compensation earlier this week when 160 vessels sailed on Edinburgh.

But Ms Brankin said her fishing package would "ensure better returns and a more economic future for the white fish fleet".

She also promised �1m to implement recommendations set out in a Scottish Fish Processors working group report.

A further �1m had been allocated to a project involving scientists and the fishing industry aimed at trialing high-tech fishing equipment.

Ms Brankin said: "This major package of support represents an unprecedented investment in the fishing industry in Scotland which will deliver sustainable fishing in the short term, medium term and long term.

Job fears

"This is the biggest ever investment in Scottish fishing and reflects our belief that this key rural industry has a long future."

Meanwhile, fish merchants concerned for thousands of processing jobs have urged the protesting skippers to return to sea.

Robert Milne, a director of the Scottish Fish Merchants Federation, said his members were extremely worried about the effect of the protest.

No fish were landed at any of the major Scottish fishing ports on Thursday.

Mr Milne said: "We are in a crisis situation. I'm just hoping the catchers will agree to a number of them going back to sea in a structured way so that we can get supplies as soon as possible."