The Scottish government has launched a GBP 6 million (USD 9.2 million) action plan to help Scotland's struggling prawn and whitefish fleets.
The move follows a dramatic fall in the availability of prawns, combined with longer-term difficulties such as high fuel prices and volatile international markets.
The action plan includes a GBP 3 million (USD 4.6 million) hardship fund for fishermen facing "exceptional stresses on their viability."
The Scottish Fishermen's Federation welcomed the steps.
Ministers said they had taken action because of the "exceptionally tough circumstances" faced by Scottish fishermen in 2013.
The prawn fishery has been mostly acutely affected, with catches in the North Sea down by more than a half on last year. Prolonged cold weather earlier in the year is thought to have contributed to the fall.
