The Scottish government hailed its “main wins” as a freeze on proposed cuts to the days when fishermen can go to sea, and gains in key quotas.
The UK government also said it had secured “the best possible deal”.
The Brussels deal resulted in increases for North Sea monkfish (20%) and prawns (15%), and West Coast haddock (14%) and monkfish (20%).
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “It is good news for the fleet.”
He added: “It gives much-needed economic stability not just to them, but to our onshore sector and the coastal communities who depend on the jobs the sector provides.”
Much of the discussion centred on how to deal with a ban on discarding unwanted fish back into the sea.
This will come into force in January for species such as herring and mackerel, and a year later for cod and haddock.
Fishing boats will be obliged to land unwanted species caught in their nets.
The practice of throwing dead fish back into the sea increased because of strict EU quotas on which fish could be landed, part of efforts to conserve fish stocks.
In 2009, Scottish vessels were forced by the Common Fisheries Policy to discard almost 28,000 tonnes of fish, about a quarter of the white fish catch, valued at £33m.
The practice was changed after public outcry, reflected in TV shows such as Hugh’s Fish Fight, presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
Following the conclusion of the December Council talks in Brussels, Mr Lochhead said: “Securing a freeze on proposed cuts to days at sea as well as increases in key stocks is welcome news and will help our fishermen with the implementation of the challenging but transformational discard ban which is being phased in from January 2015 onwards.
“These valuable and timely increases, alongside the increases already secured in past weeks, and the rollover secured on a number of other key species are in line with scientific advice and show that stocks are recovering and the fleet’s conservation efforts over the past decade are paying dividends.”
Greater urgency
He added: “Over the past few weeks and months I have been making a plea for Europe to give greater urgency to preparing for the implementation of the landing obligation (discard ban) and stressing how we must look at developing 21st century tools, and modern management plans, to provide a workable solution to ensure successful implementation of the ban.
“I am pleased that the need for flexibilities to help prepare for the discard bans in Scotland’s complex fisheries are beginning to be acknowledged.
“And I look forward to continuing discussions on wider management options as we move this year toward the next phase of the ban.”
UK Fisheries Minister George Eustice said the negotiations had been “difficult”.
He said: “While fishermen had feared there would be major cuts from the commission, by bringing new science to the table we were able to keep the same quota as last year for many species, including monkfish, megrim and pollock in the South West and skates and rays around the UK.”
Mr Eustice represented the UK as a whole in the Brussels talks, while Mr Lochhead represented Scotland, and Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister also attended.
BBC © 2014