Mr Scott called for a regional solution

The Lib Dem MSP's remarks go beyond the official position of the Scottish Executive, which wants reform of the policy but not complete abolition.

Mr Scott said he wanted to see a system of regional management involving fishermen in the administration of their own fisheries.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Tories have now called for the minister to resign amid allegations he has broken the ministerial code of conduct.

Hitting out at the management of fishing grounds, Mr Scott said: "If we could get rid of the common fisheries policy, which demonstrably does not work, I believe it would be possible to construct that regional policy involving, for example, Faroes, Shetland, Norway and Iceland."

'Challenging Brussels'

However, a statement later issued by the Shetland MSP and the executive said that ministers did not believe withdrawal was in the interests of Scottish fishermen.

"The devolved government in Scotland is not challenging EU competence on fisheries," it stated.

SNP fisheries spokesman Richard Lochhead echoed Mr Scott's assertion that the common policy had been "disastrous".

Fishing communities are coming under pressure

But Mr Lochhead told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland he now expected that the minister's constituents would want his "head on a block".

"This is not the first time that Tavish has promised to stand shoulder to shoulder with his constituents, given that the fishing industry is such a huge issue there, only for him then to land in Edinburgh airport, head for his ministerial office and then change his mind," he said.

"Quite honestly the worst crime an MSP or any politician can commit is to betray their constituents after promising them something."

And in the Scottish parliament, Tory fisheries spokesman Ted Brocklebank said Mr Scott had broken the ministerial code of conduct on collective Cabinet responsibility and must resign.

He said: "Unless the executive has changed its policy accordingly, it is evident that Mr Scott has breached the ministerial code, which says that once a decision has been announced all ministers are required to abide by it and defend it and he must therefore resign."

Once a decision has been announced all ministers are required to abide by it and defend it and he must therefore resign Ted Brocklebank Tory fisheries spokesman

BBC Scotland's political correspondent Glenn Campbell said: "There is great unease about the common fisheries policy, but to actually call for it to be scrapped is effectively challenging Brussels' competence in this area."

Mr Scott previously resigned as a minister in 2001 after refusing to support the executive's opposition to a tie-up scheme to preserve fish stocks.

Meanwhile, campaigners and fishing industry leaders met in Edinburgh in a bid to form a united front against the CFP.