The fish quota deal was signed in Brussels last month

The meeting came after revelations that Scots fishing quotas are lower than at first thought.

SNP Leader John Swinney spearheaded calls for an increase in fishing days, an end to the permit system and greater access to traditional haddock grounds.

Scottish Executive officials are currently locked in talks with the EU aimed at tidying up the deal.

Wide-ranging and frank

Mr Swinney led a SNP delegation including Westminster Leader Alex Salmond, Foreign Affairs spokesman Angus Robertson and European Fisheries Spokesman Ian Hudghton.

They met Fisheries Council President, Irish Fisheries Minister Dermot Ahern TD, before going on to meet EU Director of Conservation Policy John Farnell.

Speaking from Brussels, Mr Swinney said: "We proposed specific changes to the deal that could make all the difference to the future of the fishing industry."

He said the meeting with Mr Ahern had been "constructive, wide-ranging and frank".

"John Farnell clearly indicated that the new deal is not set in stone", Mr Swinney said.

John Swinney led the SNP delegation in Brussels

"We forcefully pressed for changes that would see more of the haddock grounds opened to our fleet and a greater proportion of quota made available before any ban in other areas takes effect.

"Together with the elimination of anomalies affecting the non-white fish boats, these changes could make all the difference to the industry."

The SNP said the situation was becomingly increasingly urgent with only a matter of days before the quotas come into force.

The deal was signed in Brussels last month and has not been well-received by the fishing industry in Scotland which is worried for its future.

An executive spokesman said talks between the executive and the EU would continue this week.

He said: "The whole negotiations are predicated on our ability to demonstrate we can enforce any improved deal that is given to the UK.

"That leaves us in a delicate position with the negotiations, which will continue this week."