Scotland's Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said he would seriously consider banning large east coast prawn trawlers fishing the Minch if necessary to protect Western Isles fishermen.
An east coast influx last summer heavily depleted fishing entitlement and threatened local livelihoods.
On a visit to the islands this week, Mr Lochhead said: “If there is a threat from east coast vessels in west coast waters, vessels which have not fished here previously, then of course we have to intervene to make sure there is enough available for west coast of Scotland fishermen to catch their quota.
“I am determined to safeguard to safeguard the ability of Western Isles and west coast fishermen to catch their own quotas.”
The prospect of stranger east coast trawlers returning to plunder Western Isles prawn stocks has been heightened following the outcome of the recent annual European fisheries talks.
The west coast and Minch fisheries received a welcomed 18% increase in the amount of prawns allowed to be caught.
However, this risks being more than cancelled out if a fleet of east coast trawlers repeat an onslaught on Minch fishing grounds to make up for reduced fishing in the North Sea where prawns quotas have been slashed.
