3.7.7	AREA 7 - CLYTHNESS TO RATTRAY HEAD
3.7.7.1	The Moray Firth is a wide bay, with the port of Inverness at its southwesterly corner. Inverness provides the funnel through which traffic, mostly but not entirely leisure craft, passes on passage to and from the Caledonian Canal. A short distance to the north, the port of Cromarty marks the entrance to the Cromarty Firth, which not only contains oil-related activities at Invergordon and Nigg, but also provides sheltered anchorage for both shipping and oil rigs.
3.7.7.2	There are several fishing ports strung along both coasts of the Firth, providing the source of the fishing activity within the Firth itself. The major fishing ports of Fraserburgh and Macduff from which a high proportion of the Scottish deep-sea pelagic fleet are based are situated at the southeastern corner of the Firth. The leisure industry is growing within the firth and many of the harbours now have yachting marinas. Inverness also has several companies running sightseeing tours into the Dolphin colony located in the firth.
3.7.7.3	Of the ten lighthouses in this region, the majority are considered major landfall lights. The remaining three mark the approaches to ports. There is a proposal to withdraw from the small GRP tower at Kinnaird Head and re-locate to the former light room in Kinnaird Castle. The major influence in this decision is the development of Fraserburgh harbour including a new fish-processing factory, which has affected the conspicuity of the smaller light.
3.7.7.4	The buoyage deployed at present is deemed to be satisfactory.
3.7.7.5	Major developments in this area which may have an effect on the traffic routeing into Cromarty and Inverness, would be the proposal by Talisman Energy to build a large wind farm site on the south side of their offshore installations in the Beatrice Field.
3.7.7.6	The main proposals for change within this area are:

• Cairnbulg Briggs - It is proposed that the character of this light be altered to avoid the suggestion of an Isolated Danger mark.
  
• Covesea Skerries - It is intended to reduce the range of this light to 18NM.
  
• Halliman Beacon - Marks the reef lying 4 cables off the coast at 0450 from the Covesea Skerries Major Lighthouse. It is intended that this unlit beacon be lit with a 5NM White light flashing twice every 8 seconds (Fl (2) W 8s).
  
• Cromarty - It is intended to approach Cromarty Firth Port Authority to assume responsibility for this light.
  
• Kinnaird Head - It is proposed to withdraw from the small GRP tower at Kinnaird Head and re-locate to the former light room in Kinnaird Castle.