Annual quotas for a number of key Scottish stocks have already been decided in separate talks between the EU and Norway.
Cod and haddock quotas are up by 5% and 15% respectively. North Sea plaice quota is up by 15% but saithe, whiting and herring have all seen decreases in line with long-term management plans.
Other negotiations between the EU, Norway and Faroe led to a 15% cut in the UK’s north-east Atlantic mackerel quota.
But ministers attending the December Fisheries Council in Brussels this week still have some hard bargaining to do.
Yet to be decided are the quotas for North Sea and west coast prawns, for which contrasting results are expected. There is likely to be a lift in the North Sea but west coast prawn fishers are heading for a cut.
West of Scotland haddock and North Sea monkfish are in line for increases.
Scientists continue to advise there should be no fishing for cod off the west coast, while whiting – for which bycatch discards are high – is poised for a zero catch there too.
Elsewhere, quotas allocations for Black Sea turbot and sprat as well as species in international waters fished by boats from the EU are up for grabs.
Ministers are being “briefed” on the implementation of the controversial discard ban, while the UK negotiating team, including Scottish Fishing Secretary Richard Lochhead, is trying to make sure there are no more cuts in days at sea.