An online petition has been launched by fishermen at Cove Bay in Aberdeen after they were banned from keeping their vessels in the area.
The men, who have kept and operated their boats from the small picturesque harbour for generations, have been ordered to remove them by the landowner.
The move has prompted upset from the local community, who have sent messages of support on a social network page called “Save the Fishing Boats of Cove Harbour”.
The group of around 10 men have been given two weeks to take away their boats and equipment from the harbour or face legal action. A letter detailing the plan was sent to them by lawyers on behalf of the owner Pralhad Kohle – which states he wants to utilise the land for amenity use.
It is believed that his plans will not affect the fishermen being able to use the access road, or launching their boats at the foreshore.
An online petition created by the fishermen has been signed by more than 1,000 people – and paper copies have been placed in a local shop in Cove for residents to sign. Mr Kohle has refused to meet the fishermen, who are going to seek legal advice.
Fishermen Johnathan Penny, 25, said: “This request for the boats to be removed has caused a deep sense of loss to the people and the heritage of the village which has always been built round the fishing over many hundreds of years.
“If we are stopped from keeping our boats there, a lot of the fishing in the area would be over.”
Resident Richard Bruce, said he was “absolutely disgusted” to hear about the eviction notice.
“I have spent hundreds of days of my life down there. I still go down to this day to fish off the rocks and have a right good laugh with all the boat owners,” the 42-year-old said.
“There is nothing else like it in Aberdeen and I know lots of other people that still go there with their kids and I still go with my ones too. I would imagine there will be a lot of unhappy people in Cove if this is to happen.”
Mr Kohle was not available for comment.