An application has been lodged to gain protected food name status for Orkney crab.
The European Union scheme provides a system for the protection of food names on geographical or traditional recipe basis to help guard against imitation.
The application by the Orkney Fishermen's Society will now be the subject of a national consultation.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "It's great news that Orkney crab has applied for protected status which could help guarantee the quality and reputation of this iconic product.
"It is extremely important for the public to know where their food comes from.
"Achieving protected food name status will ensure that customers from both Scotland and further afield can be guaranteed that what they are buying is genuine, high-quality crab from Orkney."
Stewart Crichton, of Orkney Fishermen's Society, said "We've worked very hard for a number of years to build the reputation of Orkney crab, starting from our fishermen and the care and pride they take in their job, to our processing factories and our customers.
"Protecting the integrity of that brand is the next logical step in the process and one we're delighted to be embarking on."
The announcement was made at the inshore fisheries conference where Mr Lochhead also set out the Scottish Government's new inshore fisheries strategy.
He added: "Our inshore fishermen provide some of the best seafood in the world and in Scotland's year of food and drink our high-quality seafood is continuing to enhance its global reputation for quality and provenance with excellent prospects for continued growth.
"My ambition is to build a more sustainable, profitable and well-managed inshore fisheries sector.
"I want to see a healthy and productive marine environment, one where thriving fishing businesses work alongside other marine users in resilient coastal communities, and where young people view fishing as an attractive career prospect.
"I believe this new strategy will help set us on the road to achieving this."
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