Scotland''s leadership on the European stage was highlighted during a meeting held by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead in Brussels on 22 March.
Mr Lochhead met with recently appointed EU Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Maria Damanaki.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Lochhead said:
"It was important to meet with the Commissioner to explain the importance of fishing to Scotland, highlight our strong views on the broken Common Fisheries Policy, and set out our proactive ideas for change which have made others in Europe sit up and take notice.
"Even though the Commissioner says she is constrained by European treaties, she voiced enthusiasm for radical change in EU fisheries policy and is genuinely interested in Scotland's part in providing solutions, something we will discuss in more detail when she hopefully visits Scotland later this year.
"We discussed the issue of days at sea, the difficulties faced by the West of Scotland, the need for a level playing field and other pressing issues. Of course we could do so much more for our fishermen if we had our own voice in Europe, which is why we hope to give the people of Scotland their say on the constitutional future by introducing a Referendum Bill later this year."
