WEST Coast prawn fishermen could be forced to tie up their boats from August until January after the larger east coast trawlers fished in their waters last year.

Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association (MNWF) claimed its members are faced with this grim prospect because of European restrictions which could have a devastating impact on the industry.

The Scottish Government says its hands are tied by the European Commission's cod recovery plan, which restricts the west coast prawn boats because they can also catch cod.

Ministers, through the agency Marine Scotland, are trying to work out how to limit fishing effort on the west coast to satisfy Europe, while still allowing the local boats to make a living.

Although no final figure has been decided, two-and-a-half fishing days a week has been suggested a week for the prawn boats on the west coast.

This follows last year's influx of boats to the west coast from the North Sea, because of a lack of prawns on the east coast.

This led to the west coast pot of days being exceeded, while the North Sea pot only went half used. But EU rules prevent east coast days being transferred.

Alastair Skinner, MNWFA chief executive, said the two-and-a-half days' limit would apply 20 or 30 boats, which forms the bulk of the fleet.

He said: "If it carries on like this the effort days will be finished by the end of August or the beginning of September. That will be it. We will be tied up until the following [year's] allocations are issued in January."

"The east coast boats have the freedom to roam, as every fishing boat technically has, but they are bigger and can go further.

"The west coast inshore fleet are mostly day fishermen boats. But the east coast boats can fish five, six, seven days, so use far more of the allocation of days at sea."

However, he said he did not blame the east coasters and had some among his membership. He said Europe was to blame.

Kintyre councillor Donald Kelly said: "If these proposals go ahead as planned they will have a devastating impact not just on fishing but the entire economy of Kintyre and all the businesses connected to fishing."

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has already met with fishermen to discuss the issue of time at sea this week and was now considering the best way forward.

Fisherman Tommy Finn detailed how implications for local communities if the fishing industry went down.

He said when he took his fishing boat into Campbeltown last Friday he had paid the local fuel merchant £8400 for diesel.

He added: "I also paid the grocer £385, the butcher £75, the chandler £364 and the local transport company £450 to take my catch to the market."

When the boat returns to Campbeltown next Friday he said he would pay the same again.

He added: "All these companies between them employ approximately 50 local people, therefore, it is not difficult to understand why a small community like Campbeltown relies on the fishing fleet to help support its fragile economy."

A Government spokesman added: "No decision has yet been taken. The Scottish Government is working flat out to mitigate any impact on fishing communities as we prepare to allocate days at seas by the end of April and we are clear European bureaucracy must stop penalising our fishermen sooner rather than later."