The Scottish white fish fleet has been cut in recent years

The stock management plan has been developed by the industry.

Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie believes it shows there is a lot to look forward to after years of pessimism.

However, the Fisherman's Association Limited group said the move ignored the fact fishing policy was dictated from Europe and Westminster.

The Scottish white fish fleet has been cut by two thirds in the last five years and thousands of jobs have been lost due to EU conservation measures.

I am committed to building a sustainable, profitable and well-managed fishing industry in Scotland Ross Finnie Fisheries minister

Mr Finnie was launching the SeaFAR action plan in Musselburgh.

It has been put together by the fishing industry, the government, scientists and environmental groups and aims to manage fish stocks in future in a long-term sustainable way.

Mr Finnie said: "I am committed to building a sustainable, profitable and well-managed fishing industry in Scotland and this document can help achieve that goal.

'Better times'

"This is the first time that the key players with an interest in delivering a secure future for our fishing industry have come together to discuss and agree where they want the industry to go and how to get there."

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) said there was growing optimism for the future.

Only when Scotland regains control of our own waters will we be able to plot a course into calmer waters for our fishing communities Richard Lochhead Moray MSP

Moray Scottish National Party MSP Richard Lochhead gave a cautious welcome to the creation of the action plan.

He said: "At long last and seven years into our Scottish Parliament, the government has recognised the need for a strategy for one of our most vital industries.

"However, the reality is that regardless of how many good measures it may contain, it ignores the elephant in the room, the Common Fisheries Policy, which will always undermine our efforts to take the industry forward to better times.

"Only when Scotland regains control of our own waters will we be able to plot a course into calmer waters for our fishing communities."

'Significant step'

Green fisheries spokesman Mark Ruskell MSP welcomed the broad thrust of the strategy but called for more to be done to conserve fish stocks.

He said: "We need to marry moves to regenerate stocks with support for maintaining the integrity of fishing communities.

"That must be looked at much more imaginatively and the report does not go into this at all, which is disappointing."

A WWF Scotland spokesperson said: "The action plan is a significant step towards ensuring a sustainable future for Scotland's fisheries.

"Like all action plans its success will be judged on whether or not it does exactly as it proposes - and turns promises and plans into actions."

However, the Fishermen's Association Ltd - who earlier withdrew from the SeaFAR group - said the plan was doomed because it ignored the fact the Scottish fishing industry policy was dictated by Brussels and implemented by Westminster.