Around 500 people gathered on a Highland beach to protest plans for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth.

The Cromarty Firth Port Authority wants permission to transfer millions of tonnes of crude oil at sea.

The authority says it it a safe process, but campaigners in Nairn on Sunday said any error could be a disaster.

Green MSP John Finnie said: "Any error in this operation however minor would be catastrophic for tourism and the wildlife in the Moray Firth.

"It can't be put at risk and the public understand that and that's why they are many people are turning out today."

The transfer currently takes place at the Nigg oil terminal.

The port authority say they will submit a refined application to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in January.