A salmon farming company has admitted a major escape from one of its cages anchored in Loch Snizort, near the Isle of Skye.
Grieg Seafoods said it believed about 21,700 fish escaped, with an average weight of 2kg.
The damage was discovered by a diver during a routine check at the fish farm on 11 February. It was immediately patched up.
A report was submitted to the government agency Marine Scotland.
Grieg Seafood, based in Norway, has seven pens in Loch Snizort, where it grows more than 400,000 salmon.
Most of its UK operations are around Shetland.