Fishermen want compensation

Fishermen were angered by the introduction last week of a similar ban on scallop fishing along much of the west coast because of the danger of amnesic shellfish poisoning.

The latest order has been described as "hugely disappointing" by the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation Hamish Morrison.

"It may be that there is a risk to consumers and we await to be told what that is," he said.

"But what I rather suspect is that we are being worried here about the risk to reputations, scientific, administrative and governmental."

Hamish Morrison: "Worries about reputations"

He said independent testing in some of the affected areas was at odds with what the government labs had found.

The federation is particularly annoyed because there is no history of poisoning involving scallops in Scottish waters.

Fishermen are pointing to the results of independent tests from some areas, which are at odds with the government laboratory findings.

The question of compensation for up to 50 Scottish vessels involved could no longer be dodged.

Mr Morrison asked if the food safety industry was in "overdrive or overkill" and questioned whether it was protecting the public or its own interests.