Cod Crusaders Carol MacDonald (left) and Morag Ritchie

Campaigners will this week meet Mr Brown to tell him fishing communities are still facing serious hardship.

Last year, he agreed a �10m aid package to help Scotland's fishing industry, affected by European quota cuts and the decommissioning of boats.

The Cod Crusaders group, made up of the wives of Scots fishermen, have called for that aid to be trebled.

They have said that the concessions won in the last round of EU talks had done little to relieve hardships being faced by towns such as Fraserburgh or the island communities.

The Crusaders insist families are racking up increasing debt, with fishermen restricted to 15 days at sea.

They said it is having repercussions for other local businesses outside the fishing industry, who are losing trade as customers lose money.

Gordon Brown holds the purse strings so we're hoping he will help us with funding Carol MacDonald

Mr Brown is due to meet campaigners at the Treasury on Wednesday.

They will be accompanied by Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond and members of the United Fishing Industry Alliance, Dick James and Keith Schofield.

The group will call on the government to return control of the fishing industry to Scotland because, they say, the controversial Common Fisheries Policy has failed to conserve fish stocks.

Cod Crusader Carol MacDonald said: "The fishing industry is on its way out and bringing down communities with it.

"Gordon Brown holds the purse strings so we're hoping he will help us with funding.

"The G8 pledged to Make Poverty History in other countries but what about our own country?"

She added: "The fishing industry wants to remain viable but due to the lunacy of Brussels, it gets harder and harder for men and women to continue employment."