GRAMPIAN Regional Council has offered to act as the go-between for the

various sectors of the fishing industry in an effort to achieve united

action to try to end the crisis which has led to lawlessness.

The pelagic sector (mainly herring and mackerel), which exports the

majority of its catch to Eastern Europe, will join the white fish

catchers, who are inflamed at cheap foreign imports, and the processing

sector to discuss the problems.

Yesterday, all sides discussed the issues over a lunch at the regional

headquarters and issued a joint statement which said that they looked

positively to the future.

The statement was read by Councillor George Barnes, chairman of

Grampian region's fisheries advisory committee, who said it was

coincidence that the meeting took place in the week that there was an

''unfortunate incident'' in Peterhead in which about 100 fishermen

boarded a Russian vessel and poured fuel over its cargo of frozen cod.

He said the catchers, processors, and regional and district

councillors agreed that the problems facing the industry were founded in

restrictive legislation from Westminster and Brussels but that they

could not condone illegal action and that united action was the best way

forward.

''The convener's offer to both sectors to use the Grampian Fisheries

Strategy Group as one of the forums to address the complex issues that

are creating such grave problems for fishermen and processors was warmly

accepted,'' he said.

Mr Barnes added: ''It was also agreed to extend the strategy to the

pelagic sector which is an important part of the Grampian fishing

economy. The largest part of the pelagic fleet's income is derived from

fish sold to Eastern Europe which is a market that has to be protected

for the benefit of the pelagic economy.''

He hoped that the move would help prevent any further illegal action

by the fishermen but he could fully understand the frustrations in the

fishing fraternity.

''The blame lies squarely with the governments at Brussels and

Westminster and their lack of understanding of the very special

situation which exists in the North-east.

''Certain comments that have been made at Westminster over the last

few days have been unfortunate to say the least and certainly do not

indicate any understanding of the very special place the fishing

industry has in the North- east.''

* Grimsby fishermen last night mounted a 24-hour blockade to prevent

cheap Russian and Norwegian fish coming in overland by lorry.

Fishermen and dock workers are operating a round-the-clock rota system

to ensure no targeted fish enters the port by lorry.

They are protesting at imports of cheap fish from Russia and Norway

which have depressed the market and led to a slump in prices, in some

cases by as much as 50%.

The blockade comes as the Grimsby-based National Federation of

Fishermen's Organisations prepares for an emergency meeting today at

which the imports crisis is expected to top the agenda.

The federation has already sent a letter to Russian and Norwegian

fishing organisations telling them that their fish is ''not welcome''

but, if that fails to stop the imports, a full-scale land and sea

blockade of British ports may be implemented.