The family of a fisherman lost at sea when his boat sank are taking legal steps to have him declared dead.

Paul Alliston, of Lewis, has been missing since the Louisa went down at anchor off Mingulay on April 9.

Martin Johnstone and Christopher Morrison died in the sinking south of Barra and their bodies were recovered shortly afterwards.

Lachlan Armstrong survived by swimming to shore when the crew's liferaft failed to inflate and was rescued from Mingulay.

It was the worst fishing disaster in the Outer Hebrides in half a century.

Mr Alliston's family has now raised an action at Stornoway Sheriff Court to officially declare him dead.

The Louisa has been raised from the seabed as part of an inquiry into the cause of the sinking. Investigators are also expected to examine why the liferaft failed to deploy properly.