Fish catch quotas were cut by the EU

A �72m package of measures aimed at bringing long term sustainability to fishing communities was unveiled by the SNP as part of its Holyrood election campaign.

And the Tories included a fair deal from the EU for farmers and fishermen as part of their policy for the improvement of rural Scotland.

Tory leader David McLetchie unveiled a huge billboard overlooking the M90 near Perth, warning voters to 'Beware of Labour's Bull'.

'Abject failure'

Mr McLetchie insisted Labour and the Lib Dems had "let down" rural Scotland and focused too much on "politically correct irrelevancies".

He called for a reversal of the policies which threaten rural schools and health services, which they say have been neglected for far too long.

The Tory leader said the fishing industry had been badly let down by the governments at both Holyrood and Westminster.

He said: "Conservatives have pledged to work towards a solution which leads to local and national control of our fishing waters.

"The SNP will certainly not do this - they are thirled to the idea of a policy run from Europe.

David McLetchie attacked Labour's rural record

"We can do something about it if we are prepared to be bold in defence of our national interest."

The SNP leader John Swinney said he would seek to renegotiate last December's EU fisheries deal if his party was elected to power.

The deal meant that North Sea cod catches were cut by 40%, haddock by 50%, and whiting by nearly two thirds, with white fish boats limited to 15-days fishing a month.

Mr Swinney denounced the deal as the outcome of an "abject failure" of Scottish Executive and Westminster negotiating power.

"Successive London governments have sold our fishing communities down the river over the years," he said.

Private sector

"However the latest fisheries agreement, signed off by a London Labour minister and passed by his Scottish Lib Dem bag carrier, surpasses all previous betrayals.

"The SNP is today saying 'enough is enough'."

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell's main focus was the need to improve research and development (R&D) in Scotland to ensure the economy benefited from indigenous inventions.

Mr McConnell said: "We will work with our businesses, particularly small and medium sized businesses to improve investment in research and development.

"Improving R&D and productivity in Scotland is a joint responsibility of both government and the private sector.

The Tories called for aid for rural communities

"We have taken our responsibility for that very seriously indeed and I believe companies in Scotland want the opportunity to do the same."

Some of Scotland's leading artistic talents pledged their second vote to the Scottish Socialists as the party unveiled its cultural strategy.

The nine-point plan would double the arts budget and create a national film school to develop talent.

Award-winning actor and director Peter Mullan, writer Alasdair Gray, playwright Peter Arnott and actress and comedienne Elaine C Smith were among the celebrities who helped launch the strategy at the Glasgow Film Theatre.