115 arrivals for the period
Whitefish totalled 7,750 boxes from seven Scottish trawl landings. Effort has dropped off over the past few weeks with only a couple of boats still fishing for haddock and monkfish at Rockall. The fishing remains steady but as the weather deteriorates boats will head back east or work closer to home.
Shellfish was once again busy with fifty prawn trawl landings combining with the resident fleet of creelers and four landings from Oban-registered scallop dredgers. Prawn fishing has been exceptional lately with supply outstripping which in turn has led to poorer market prices.
Non-fishing yet again consisted primarily of aquaculture vessels (thirty-three) who called in for equipment, fuel and crew. Additionally we welcomed fourteen calls from cruise liners carrying 13,000 passengers and crew. The Calmac ferry Isle of Arran called in for crew, the MCA tug Ievoli Black visited for fuel and tall ships Flying Dutchman, Thalassa and Fryderyk Chopin came in for passengers. The Polish two-masted brig Fryderyk Chopin, constructed in 1992, made her maiden call and looked magnificent (picture Martin Cunningham). The Flying Dutchman has been alongside for a couple of months enduring main engine issues which thankfully have been resolved and she sailed south to Tobermory to complete her summer charter season.
Harbour projects are progressing through the tendering and planning processes. The Caley building refurbishment has been submitted to Highland Council Planning and Building Control for consideration. Anyone wishing to enquire about the Caley project is welcome to email or call in at the harbour office to discuss.
The harbour is extremely sad to note the death of former top prawn skipper Neil ‘The Nod’ Campbell and former harbour trustee, Roy MacPherson. A lifetime fisherman, Neil worked the Minches with the prawn trawler Zenith giving lots of local lads their first start at sea. Famed for working in wild weather Neil won the top landing skipper award in Lochinver for many years despite having a smaller boat than many of his competitors. Amongst other amazing community contributions, Roy Macpherson afforded years of dedicated service to the harbour and was part of the Board who presided over the major ferry developments in 2012-2014. Both were great local characters who will be sorely missed and we extend our deepest sympathies to their families and friends at this sad time