Moray harbours facing closure

SIX Moray harbours, including Cullen, Portknockie and Findochty, could be facing the threat of closure in 2013 due to a massive backlog in dredging operations and vital maintenance work.

A report put before Moray councillors last week paints a gloomy picture of the future for small inshore commercial fishing boat owners and recreational sailors, who use the local authority’s harbours.

The official harbours report states that Hopeman, Findochty, Portknockie and Cullen – all vital to leisure sailing and tourism along the Moray Firth coast – could close if Moray Council is unable to commit more money to their upkeep.

"Certain facilities could eventually close because they are beyond repair," claimed the report, which was co-authored by Moray Council’s senior transport engineer Keith Stratton and Gordon Holland, the council’s transport manager.

"We are quick as we can to respond," said Mr Holland. "But, really, it’s a ‘finger in the dyke’ situation. We are patching things up."

The report insists it is vital that Buckie Harbour is kept open as many jobs depend on its viability and it is home to the Moray Firth’s major lifeboat station, while livelihoods also depend on Burghead harbour, further up the coast, which is used by fishing vessels.

Buckie councillor Gordon McDonald, chairman of Moray Council’s audit and performance committee, has called for an urgent update on the state of Moray’s harbours.

For more on this story see this week's Banffshire Journal, on sale now.