Scotland's deputy finance minister has come under fire from fellow MSPs for recommending that the EU's common fisheries policy be scrapped.

Tavish Scott has instead argued for regional administration of the fishing industry.

His position goes beyond that of the Scottish executive, which instead backs reform of the pact.

"If we could get rid of the common fisheries policy, which demonstrably does not work, I believe it would be possible to construct that regional policy involving, for example, Faroes, Shetland, Norway and Iceland," Scott said.

The Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland later issued a statement, along with the rest of the executive, retracting his remarks.

"The devolved government in Scotland is not challenging EU competence on fisheries," it read.

However, the Scottish Nationalists suggested that Scott's constituents would want his "head on a block".

"This is not the first time that Tavish has promised to stand shoulder to shoulder with his constituents, given that the fishing industry is such a huge issue there, only for him then to land in Edinburgh airport, head for his ministerial office, and then change his mind," said fisheries spokesman Richard Lochhead.

"Quite honestly, the worst crime an MSP or any politician can commit is to betray their constituents after promising them something."