A new £1.7 million harbour in Barra has been hailed as a vote of confidence in the mainstay industry – the biggest employer – on the island.
Three new shellfish trawlers have already been purchased by the island’s fishing fleet on the back of the decision to build the sheltered haven on the north coast of the island.
The weekend’s opening ceremony coincided with the island’s annual Fishermen’s Mass followed by a “blessing of the boats.”
Despite the rain, more than 300 people attended the event, reinforcing how vital fishing is for the 1,100-strong island population.
Local fishing boats “dressed” in flags and bunting packed out the harbour while Barra Pipeband, dancers and a Gaelic choir entertained the crowd.
Construction was made possible with the bulk of funding from Western Isles Council. The Crown Estate’s Coastal Communities Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) also contributed.
The Barratlantic seafood factory provided the site for the harbour.
Factory manager, Donald Maclean, said it was “fantastic” to see it open.
He added: “We’ve been waiting for this since there was disaster in 2005 when there were three boats lost here. That was a big blow.
“Lets hope it’s a big turning point in the fishing industry in Barra”.