Island fishermen are set to claim compensation for loss of earnings after being effectively banned from working near the grounded oil rig off Lewis.
A 300 metre exclusion zone has been imposed to seaward of the drilling platform which is stuck on rocks after breaking its tow last week.
Anyone entering within these limits face criminal prosecution.
Prime shellfish grounds are out of bounds as a result.
Creelmen fear livelihoods will be hit as the ban is introduced during the best productive time for lobster and crab fishing.
Three or four vessels normally work the affected area.
Duncan Macinnes, secretary of the Western Isles Fishermen's Association, told a public meeting they should be compensated for their losses.
Around 80 people attended the event on Monday night which was organised by Carloway Community Association.
Mr Macinnes told the forum the incident was an "accident waiting to happen."
The skipper of the towing vessel, Alp Forward, followed the recommend route west of the Hebrides.
Otherwise the tow may have gone down the more sheltered and safer waters of the Minch.
Mr Macinnes said: "If was an oil tanker there would have been utter devesation on the whole west coast.
"No-
The local fishing industry want shipping unfamilar with Western Isles waters to navigate through the Minch with compulsory pilotage, he added.
The exclusion zone -
Vessel seeking to enter the zone require the express permission of the UK Government's salvage representative, Hugh Shaw, who has set up base at Stornoway coastguard station.
Creelmen banned from fishing grounds near stricken oil rig
16 August 2016
