WITH the ongoing discussions surrounding the re-negotiation of the UK's terms of membership to the EU one wonders if the time is now right to give consideration to the policy of equal access to fishing grounds which was traded off in the 1970s for the sake of the UK greater economic good.

This policy has wreaked havoc in our local island and coastal communities and it would seem sensible to give thought to a review of what was an ill-conceived piece of legislation.

The fish processing and catching industry does not rank high on the Richter scale of European priorities but it plays a crucial role in areas of the Highlands and Islands which still rank as being considerable fragile despite the success of the Highland and Islands Development Board and its successor agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Scientific evidence would appear to suggest that despite the current legislation, fish stocks are improving thanks to the control and management of fisheries scientists, environmentalists and the industry itself but with little thanks to Brussels.

If politicians (Scottish and UK) would like to earn brownie points from our coastal and island communities they could do worse than to pay real attention to such an outdated policy which was offered as a sacrificial lamb 45 years ago.

DG McIntyre,

15 Red Row, Limekilns, Fife.