It is a jewel in the crown of the west coast and a popular stop off for yachts and cruise ships.
But by a quirk of history, Tobermory on the isle of Mull has never been a trust port or harbour authority.
Now statutory powers to operate Tobermory Harbour have been awarded to the local harbour association, making it a harbour authority.
The Harbour Empowerment Order gives Tobermory Harbour Association the legal and regulatory framework to manage the bay and assets on behalf of residents and businesses on Mull, as well as other stakeholders.
Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf said: “By granting this Harbour Empowerment Order, we have conferred statutory harbour authority status on the Tobermory Harbour Association.
“They are best placed to make the important decisions about the future of the harbour. This formal granting of powers will allow them to manage the harbour more effectively and progress a long term vision for the facility that is in the best interests of the residents of Mull and harbour users.
“The Scottish Government is committed to empowering our island communities and this is a great example of providing greater community control at a local level.”
Chairman of Tobermory Harbour Association Brian Swinbanks said: “This is a huge step forward for us and for everyone who lives and works around our iconic and very colourful harbour.
“The new Harbour Authority will be a community-run and community-driven organisation. It will be dedicated to build facilities for all, benefiting local boat owners, fishermen and charter boats, our wonderful Island of Mull and the wider west coast of Scotland.
“The Harbour Empowerment Order also brings security to the next phase of our plans to create a welcoming and safe hub port at Tobermory, where visitors can enjoy our island hospitality as they prepare to sail to the more remote communities beyond Ardnamurchan.”
Crown Estate Scotland’s head of property Andy Wells, said: “This is a real milestone for Tobermory Harbour Association and for the Tobermory community as a whole.
“The team there has put in a huge amount of work and energy over the last few years, with Crown Estate supporting whenever possible, and we are thrilled that they can now press ahead with expanding facilities which will deliver wider benefits to local communities and businesses.”
