The government has claimed victory following the latest EU negotiations on fishing quotas.

The number of days trawlers can take to sea has increased from 10 to 15 following round the clock Brussels talks.

The meeting of EU fisheries ministers came amid predictions that fishing stocks - and particularly cod - had sunk to dangerously low levels.

Speaking on Friday DEFRA minister Ben Bradshaw said the UK had secured a sound deal.

"We have successfully defended the number of days our boats are allowed to fish and we have got a long-term recovery programme for cod," he said.

Interviewed later the minister said he had secured "quite big increases" in the amounts of other fish, such as prawns and haddock, that fishermen will be able to catch.

Bradshaw said the fishing industry should welcome the outcome of the annual talks.

"We have managed to defend the UK's existing position, and in fact got a little bit more flexibility into that, so I think our industry will be happy with that," said the minister.

But earlier in the talks EU fisheries commissioner Franz Fischler had counselled against national self interest.

"The long-term aim is to keep fishing and if there are no fish we cannot do that," he had said.

The SNP, which has called for Britain's withdrawal from the common fisheries policy, said Scotland's fleet had been "stitched up" by the deal.

"Last year, our fishermen were given little quota to fish but had the days to fish it. This year, they have got some decent quotas but not the days," said SNP Westminster leader Alex Salmond.

"As a result, this common fisheries policy 'water torture' continues for Scots fishing communities."