Labour and the SNP have taken their election campaigns to a pair of exhibitions on science and fishing.

Nationalist leader John Swinney was in Glasgow to pledge his party's commitment to the declining but crucial fishing industry.

And first minister Jack McConnell was concentrating on the growth industry of science in Edinburgh.

Speaking from the Fish 2003 exhibition, Swinney promised to kick start the Scottish coastal economy following the series of recent hammer blows it has taken from European quota reductions.

He also pledged that if elected he would personally champion the fishing industry and not let Westminster ministers speak for Scotland at future meetings in Brussels.

The nationalists have committed themselves to providing £72 million in subsidies to fishermen and payments for those who go out of business.

They also want to help onshore businesses in coastal regions that are suffering from the knock on effects of reductions in fishing stocks and to campaign for the abolition of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

"As first minister, I will personally insist that Scotland is never again represented in fisheries negotiations by a London minister with responsibility for only a tiny fraction of the United Kingdom fleet," Swinney said.

"The Scottish fishing industry is in a state of unprecedented crisis," he added.

"The latest fisheries agreement - signed off by a London Labour minister and supported by his Scottish Lib Dem bag-carrier - surpasses all previous betrayals.

"The SNP is today saying 'enough is enough'. We are proposing a comprehensive plan of action which will ensure the viability of the industry into the future."

Labour leader Jack McConnell continued Thursday's exhibition theme with a visit the Edinburgh Science Festival.

Seeking to highlight the benefits of the Budget for Scotland's growth industries, the first minister said that research and enterprise would be key to continued economic growth.

"Our manifesto commitments to provide practical support to turn the ideas of the research lab into product development, and to give new support to help Scottish businesses start up and grow, work hand in hand with the national enterprise incentives in yesterday's Budget," he said.

These included new tax incentives for research and development and plans to boost skills training for young people.

"Yesterday's Budget was a Budget for growth and enterprise in Scotland. We will work with our businesses, particularly small and medium sized ones, to improve investment in research and development," McConnell pledged.

"This is the right way to change long term economic growth in Scotland."