A group of fishermen have banded together to upgrade facilities at a north-east harbour.
The Rosehearty Harbour and Inshore Fisheries Association (RHIFA) was recently formed with the aim of protecting the livelihoods of local fishermen and the port itself.
It will work with the council and the North East of Scotland Fisheries Local Action Group (NESFLAG) to improve the site.
RHIFA boasts a membership of around 20 harbour users, with the majority of them commercial fishermen.
They have set out their key priorities, which include applying for grants from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
RHIFA have also set out a number of infrastructure improvements they want to make. These include a new ice making and chill facility, a mechanised davit and additional ladders at the west pier.
David Whyte is the chairman of the new association and said they wanted to be involved with managing the port they use on a daily basis.
He said he was busy working on applications for funding to give it a boost.
Mr Whyte said: “We got together and decided it was time we engaged with the council.
“We had a meeting with them and it became clear that if we wanted to do anything we had to help ourselves.
“The association was formed to get involved in the wider marine management side of things with Marine Scotland and to help with maximising the produce we take in on smaller fishing boats like mackerel and lobster.
“It also means we can apply for funding as an association.
“We’ve identified five priorities for the harbour, which include repairs to the west pair, a mechanised davit and to put in an ice facility.
“I am working on an application for these at the moment and the total project cost is in the region of £80,000.”
Rosehearty Harbour is one of the oldest sea ports in Scotland and at one time had a fishing fleet which supported 600 people.
Extending to 36,597 square ft, it is a one basin harbour which offers 393ft of quayside inside the harbour with a further 393ft on the outer breakwater.
