The EU referendum results marks “a seismic change” for the fishing industry, according to many in it, as it will restore the UK’s long-lost control over the greater part of the northern European fishing grounds.

In Scotland the fleet has declined during Britain’s time in Europe. The 2007 workforce of 4,408 fishermen regularly employed on Scottish-based fishing boats, was approximately half that employed in the early 1970s when Britain joined what was then the European Economic Community (EEC).

The number of fishing boats over 10m long was 1318 in 1990, 958 in 2000, and only 583 in 2014.

The numbers fell as the European Commission exerted more and more control over how much could be caught, in an efforts to conserve fish stocks which scientists warned were at risk

There was the imposition of a range restrictive measures on the industry including: the Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme (SCCS); Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Real Time Closures (RTC); Juvenile Real Time Closures (JRTC); the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS); discards; and days at sea.

This along with competition from other European vessels in what had previously been UK waters, turned many against the EU and its Common Fisheries Policy.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss, had argued against leaving saying that Britain, has only 13 per cent of the EU’s total sea area, but was allocated 30 per cent of the total quota; and trawlers fished in Irish, German, French and Dutch waters with catches worth about £100m a year.

But many in Scotland were not persuaded. However while Brexit should on the face of it, give Scottish vessels far greater freedom, it won’t all be plain sailing the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has already warned

“This is because whilst regaining control of our fisheries, the UK (like Norway and Iceland) would still have to set its own fishing opportunities in prudent accordance with fish-stock science and through negotiation with other coastal states, including those still in membership of the EU.”

It is something Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive is already preparing for:

“The result of the referendum brings both opportunities and challenges for the fishing industry and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation will be doing everything in its power to ensure that the best possible deal is achieved for fishing during the exit negotiations.

“To aid this process, it is vital that we have clarity from both the UK and Scottish Governments on their future intentions for fishing. Our national governments must work closely with the industry over the coming months and years to ensure that the right framework is put in place to deliver a prosperous future.”

He is conscious of benefits brought through membership of the EU, not least those provided by an open market place for Scotland’s seafood products.

Also while free movement of labour within the Euro-zone has been a highly controversial right, the SFF concedes “it is undeniably one that has benefited fishing and our precious seafood processing sector.”

It all comes at a time when quota cuts, a Russian ban on EU seafood imports and other problems have contributed to a sharp slump in Scottish fish landings.

Some 439,900tonnes of fish worth a total of £437million was landed by Scottish-registered boats last year.

This was compared with 480,700tonnes of fish worth £514million the year before.