A Scottish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) has called for an European Union blockade of Iceland and Faroese trawlers and goods amid the wrangle over mackerel quotas.
Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson said at the weekend Iceland Farose were “acting like their Viking ancestors” by “Plundering” stocks.
It has been claimed the dispute could have serious consequences for the Scottish fishing fleet.
Last week a Faroese trawler left Peterhead harbour, Scotland’s premier fishing port after being blockaded.
Mr Stevenson has now written to the president of the European Parliament’s fisheries committee calling for the Iceland and the Faroes fisheries ministers to be summoned to Brussels for talks.
He said: “So far they have obstinately refused to bring their quotas back down to sensible levels, so I believe the EU must apply maximum pressure to bring then back to the table”.
“ They need to understand the serious repercussions of this selfish and short-sighted action”.
Scottish fishing industry leaders, who have been angered by the situation, welcomed the EU move.
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmon has already called for political action to end the ongoing dispute over mackerel, which is the most valuable stock to the Scottish fishing industry.
Last week around 50 local fishermen took action when the Faroese trawler The Jupiter arrived at Peterhead Harbour to unload mackerel on Tuesday, and it was forced to leave.
The Jupiter returned to its home port, but Skipper Emil Pedersen said its catch would have to go into meal or oil production-costing him more than £400,000,
