Scottish fishermen have warned that they must not be regarded as "expendable" again as Brexit negotiators seek to maintain the UK's trade and economic ties with Europe.
The Scottish Fishermen's Federation said Brexit presents "a unique opportunity for the UK to re-establish itself as major fishing nation".
Read more: Sturgeon holds ‘very robust’ talks over impact of Brexit
Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive, described EU membership as "a bad mistake" which brought "serious disadvantage for our fishing industry and coastal communities".
He recalled how Scottish fishermen were "regarded as expendable" in negotiations to enter the European Community in the early 1970s, according to UK Government files unsealed decades later.
Mr Armstrong said fishermen were "seriously damaged in the cause of EU entry" and "must not be damaged again in the cause of EU exit".
Prime Minister Theresa May has stressed that the UK may be leaving the EU but it is "not leaving Europe" and said she is keen to maintain trade and economic links.
But European Council president Donald Tusk has warned there will be "no single market a la carte" and Britain would have to accept the four pillars of free movement of people, labour, capital and goods if it wants access.
Read more: Recession looms after 'dramatic deterioration' in UK economy since Brexit vote, City analysts warn
Holyrood's European and External Affairs Committee is holding emergency sessions during parliament recess to discuss the implications to Scotland of Brexit.
In a submission ahead of his appearance on Thursday, Mr Armstrong said: "The Scottish fishing sector is delighted and full of hope that Brexit will restore to the UK the normal rights and responsibilities for fishing enjoyed by all coastal states in their own sea space.
"A glance at the history will illustrate why this is the right thing to do.
"It is no small thing and will rectify an initial bad mistake that evolved into a situation of serious disadvantage for our fishing industry and coastal communities.
"Regarding the history, the UK along with Ireland and Denmark joined in 1973 what was then the European Economic Community, taking the membership count from six to nine.
"In the give-and-take negotiation over joining conditions, access to fishing was made collective with UK fishing famously noted by the government of the day as 'expendable'."
Read more: Magnus Gardham: Would a "soft Brexit plus" deal for Scotland satisfy Nicola Sturgeon?
He said Brexit means "that normal rights and responsibilities for fishing will be restored, unless they are traded away again".
An SFF action plan states: "We accept that outcomes will depend on international negotiation and regional cooperation, and the changes we seek are based on partnership rather than isolation.
"That said, we believe that the UK fishing industry has a strong negotiating hand and can secure significant improvements in fishing opportunities and the management of our fisheries.
"Clearly, the continuing implementation of the reformed CFP will add a level of complexity to an already convoluted and politically charged exit process.
"Taken together, these factors could encourage the UK to agree a 'conciliatory' exit settlement on fisheries, with the aim of securing concessions elsewhere.
"This form of double jeopardy would be unacceptable.
"Having been seriously damaged in the cause of EU entry, the fishing industry must not be damaged again in the cause of EU exit.
The SFF has called for "harmful elements of any retained EU fisheries law has to be amended immediately"
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