John Home Robertson: "Russian activity"

He said: "There is increasing pressure on some fishing stocks in international waters in the North Atlantic and that's why the commission is establishing powers to protect those stocks.

"I am delighted that Scotland is taking a share of the responsibility by undertaking patrols in that area."

Officers from Scotland and other member states are needed to help the NEAFC because the European Commission has no naval assets of its own.

They will be given the power to stop and board vessels from fellow European Union countries and a number of other nations, including Russia.

"We have information that the Russians are doing a lot of fishing in this area and that is why we are very keen to keep an eye on what they are doing," added Mr Robertson.

Scottish fishermen have also been voicing concerns about the haddock fisheries at Rockall, west of the Hebrides.

Rockall is in unregulated waters

Last month Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson complained to the European Commission that Russian klondykers were threatening haddock stocks by fishing there.

Mr Robertson said officers would not have powers in this area as it lay in unregulated waters - but stressed that he had raised concerns about Rockall at the European Fisheries Council last month.

"We got support from all the main players, including the European Commission, and we have given the Russians notice that we intend to ensure that there are proper controls there in the future," he said.

He said the situation there was urgent because of reports that immature haddock had been landed, while deep-sea species were also coming under extra pressure.