Tests are being undertaken following fears of potentially toxic contamination of the sea and shore as the result of a major fire in the Western Isles.
Concerns have arisen that copper paint stored in a net cleaning factory on the isle of Scalpay leaked into the marine environment as fire-fighters sprayed tonnes of water on the raging blaze ripping through the building.
Seawater is pumped from near the factory to a live shellfish storage unit while local fisherman set creels for crabs and lobsters in the vicinity.
However, a near-by salmon farm is believed to be presently fallow with no fish in the cages.
Another worry is over children exploring around the shore during the current spell of warm, sunny weather.
The net factory is right on the sea front to allow heavy fish farm nets to be delivered by boat. Nets suspended under the surface of sea lochs are often covered by seaweed and algae after a couple of years and are taken ashore for cleaning and disinfecting.
Flames brought down the roof and the intense heat caused part of the 3,106 square metres (33,434 square feet) large premises to collapse at the weekend.
A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said: “As a result of the fire at the net station on Scalpay, it is understood that some of the copper-based anti-fouling paint held at the facility has discharged into the sea.
“SEPA officers have taken samples of seawater and will continue to work closely with Marine Scotland and other partners to investigate the potential impact of this substance on coastal water quality in the area.”
At high tide a local SEPA inspector took a number of samples from different spots around the surrounding shoreline.