Salmon giant Marine Harvest Scotland (MHS) has said it is making 34 workers redundant from its processing and farming operations and plans to harvest fewer fish this year than in 2017.
The company, which employs around 1,200 people across sites on the west coast, the Outer Hebrides and Skye and a fish factory in Rosyth, said the move was necessary to “ensure the business is sustainable”.
The firm – part of Norway’s Marine Harvest group – added the cuts were being made at “various sites and locations.”
Last night, MHS business support manager Steve Bracken said: “We have today indicated to the staff representatives that we will unfortunately have to make 34 people redundant. We’re sorry to have to take this action but we need to ensure the business is sustainable for the future.
“We are working with the various agencies and will do everything we can to find alternative employment for those who will be losing their jobs.”
He added: “Almost half the jobs are in processing, which reflects the seasonal nature of work in this particular part of the business. There will be some redundancies in farming, largely because we will be harvesting fewer fish this year. Salmon farming has always involved some fluctuation in employment numbers due to the harvesting cycles, but we will do everything we can to help those who will be leaving the business.”
MHS has 49 sea farms and nine freshwater sites employing 700 people. Another 500 work at Rosyth.
