Fishermen want compensation

The executive said the relaxation would let scallop fishermen pursue an alternative fishery and help maintain their viability.

But Hugh Allan, secretary of the Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association, said the measure would not apply to many boats.

He said conversion to prawn fishing would be a major expense and although the measure was helpful it was unlikely to be taken up.

Last week, Hamish Morrison, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, attacked the Food Standards Agency for extending a ban on scallop fishing to Orkney and Caithness.

It followed the previous week's decision to introduce a similar ban on scallop fishing along much of the west coast because of the danger of poisoning.

ASP is caused by marine algae which produce a toxin, domoic acid.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and short-term memory loss.

Victims are known to have been killed by the poison.