A north-east harbour has been boosted by new facilities for local fishermen despite a continuing row over safety.
A new chill room has been installed at the Macduff harbour fish market by the local authority at a cost of more than £16,000.
The storage room, which is fully automated and can store 400 boxes of fish or prawns, is now up and running.
The launch of the chill room is part of a wider master plan to make the port fit for the future.
Harbour chiefs have already negotiated a deal with Marine Scotland to relax fish landing regulations, encouraging skippers who otherwise land at Fraserburgh or Peterhead to come back.
Harbour officer, Duncan Mackie, said: “It is important to have a chill facility at the harbour, so boats landing here on a daily basis can keep their catch as fresh as possible before it is picked up and taken to market.
“We managed to ensure the chill room was in place ready for the beginning of the Moray Firth squid fishery and, since it was installed, it has also been used on a daily basis for fish and prawns.”
Corrie McCall, Aberdeenshire’s principal harbours officer, added: “The relaxation on regulation regarding fish landings at Macduff has seen an increase in activity and the completion of this new chill room will add to the facilities we provide to support the catching sector.”
Other initiatives the local authority and harbour board are launching as part of the master plan include changing the road layout around the dock and adding extra parking spaces.
The council is also investigating the installation of an ice plant, cutting time and costs for local boats which currently have to travel further afield to stock their vessels with ice.
However a proposal to scrap the post of night watchman at Macduff sparked outrage when it was announced earlier this year.
The council plans to install CCTV cameras to keep vessels and fishermen safe but opponents, led by prominent local skipper John Clark, argue the watchmen play a vital role in ensuring trawlers land safely.
The council is currently reviewing the proposal and a report is due back next month.