Fishermen voice concern as mud build-up at Helmsdale harbour branded a ‘serious’ risk
A Sutherland harbour used by commercial fishermen and pleasure craft is so silted up it could become unnavigable during the next big storm, it is feared.
Local fishermen operating out of the Highland Council-run Helmsdale harbour are concerned they may have to move to other harbours if the situation worsens.
An attempt to dredge part of the harbour earlier this year was stopped after it was discovered there was no licence in place.
Highland Council says it is in the process of applying for a dredging licence from Marine Scotland - but this could take up to six months.
The chairperson of Helmsdale Community Council, Allison Cowie, raised the issue at a meeting last week.
And the chairperson of the Helmsdale Harbour Users group, Andrew Sutherland, said it was the main topic of conversation among local fishermen.
Helmsdale Harbour dates back to 1818 and was extended in 1823 and 1892. The harbour has a narrow, shallow entrance.
At the turn of the 19th century, there were more than 200 herring boats operating out of the harbour. The seven current commercial users of the harbour fish for lobster, crab, and prawns. The harbour is also a popular sailing destination.
The cash-strapped local authority, which used to have its own dredger, has not dredged Helmsdale for years, according to Mr Sutherland.
He said last winter’s big easterly swells at sea last winter, coupled with stones and boulders washed down by the River Helmsdale when in spate, had caused the harbour to become shallower by 3ft-4ft in the space of a week.
Surveys carried out at low tide along with manual depth measurements from a local boat have shown that the harbour is clogged up with mud and large banks of stones have built up on the channel leading out to sea.
Boat movements have been restricted, particularly in the area of the harbour basin towards the eastern wall and at the entrance. There is currently a three-hour window on either side of the tide to navigate the harbour.
Mr Sutherland said: “You can’t go in and out at will - you have to watch the tides. It is now getting shallower and shallower around the harbour - the whole harbour needs to be dredged, and that will take a lot of time. The worry is now over the winter if easterly swells start again.”
Community council chairperson Allison Cowie told fellow community councillors at their meeting last Thursday evening that the situation was “serious”.
A fisheries officer crossing Helmsdale Bridge earlier this year is said to have spotted the work at the harbour and placed a stop notice on it.
A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “We did remove some beach stones as a precautionary measure prior to applying for a marine licence and discussions have taken place with Marine Scotland to discuss the precautionary measures taken.”
The spokesperson said the authority had now applied for a licence and expected it to be granted within six months.
He continued: “A contractor has been identified, and work can commence within a couple of weeks of the licence being granted, weather and tides permitting.”
Asked about the likelihood of the harbour becoming impassable, the spokesperson said: “Hopefully this will not be the case due to the precautions already taken by the council.due to the precautionary action already taken by the council,
“However, if there should be further issues with the harbour prior to dredging works taking place, the council will liaise with Marine Scotland to undertake any further measures.”
