Economic Developments at Kinlochbervie Harbour

20th October 2008

A £120,500 plan to develop a new pontoon system at Kinlochbervie Harbour is to go ahead following funding approval from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highland Council.

Pontoons to berth an additional twelve boats will be built for small yachts, pleasure boats and commercial crafts, helping to regenerate the sparsely populated fishing community.

In 2006 HIE commissioned Tourism Resource Company (TRC) to undertake an assessment of five pontoon harbour development proposals within Caithness and Sutherland. One of the key development opportunities that emerged for Kinlochbervie was a growing market for safe haven recreational sailing facilities.

Highland Council owned Kinlochbervie harbour will pull many extra visitors to the area and accommodate the increasing number of visiting leisure craft. The project aims to install a pontoon access bridge and create an additional 12 berths in accordance with the TRC's consultation study recommendations.

Kinlochbervie a safe natural harbour within easy steaming distance of the fishing grounds of the North and West Coast of Scotland.

Following recent development of pontoons at Lochinver, Kinlochbervie is the next desireable safe haven and will benefit from expanding the number of berths it currently has. In 2006, there was a steady increase on the previous year with 100 sailing yachts berthing in Kinlochbervie Harbour.

George Jack, account manager at HIE, said: "Opportunities for economic development in this fishing community are limited, and the project will stimulate the area's regeneration. The development will result in a greater number of sailing traffic into Kinlochbervie and the economic spin-off that will result from increased use of local facilities and services, followed by the creation of employment to support the demand for local service provision."

Tony Usher, Highland Council harbour manager, said: "A wide range of benefits will be created for the local community and we are very pleased to have had the support from HIE which made this project possible."