A PLACE for Lossiemouth fishermen to meet and talk about the old days has been preserved for the future.
The fishing has all but disappeared now in Lossiemouth’s twin harbours; replaced by a booming pleasure craft industry but the importance of the town’s rich fishing heritage will never be forgotten.
“The Bunker” on Shore Street has been a popular meeting place for current and retired fisherman for more than three decades.
The Lossiemouth Fishermen’s Benevolent Association was struggling to afford the upkeep of the facility.
The Elgin and Lossiemouth Harbour Company stepped in and while the old bunker is now its harbour office, a new facility for fishermen to meet and chat about their time at sea has been created downstairs.
George Reid, chairman of the harbour company officially handed over the keys to The Bunker this week to Jack Scott, secretary of the benevolent trust.
“The harbour board already provides the building for the local Fisheries and Community Museum,” said Mr Reid, “and now provides this new facility in its recognition of the considerable contribution of benefits by the fishermen to the harbour and the local community over past generations and to ensure that present and retired fishermen will have an excellent social amenity for the future.”
The harbour company secured match funding from the Scottish Government’s European Fisheries Fund (EFF) Axis 4 Programme and the Moray Council. Katalin Boda, from the Moray FLAG programme, which is the multi-agency Fisheries Local Action Group, also supported the project.
Jack Scott said: “The Harbour Company have acted in a most benevolent fashion in providing an area to be used as a long-term recreational facility for the fishing industry. The fishermen, their representatives and other users of The Bunker are truly thankful for all that has been done."
Read the thoughts of two Lossie fishermen with more than 70 years experience at sea, in The Northern Scot print version on Friday and also see another picture from the event.
