Lewis salmon processing plant faces indefinite closure

Bakkafrost Scotland has proposed the closure of its sites at Marybank and Arnish, with the potential loss of around 80 jobs.

The Faroese-owned company said shutting its salmon processing facilities in Lewis would be a temporary, but extended, measure.

BBC Scotland reported that the change was due to the majority of its fish being harvested in the first part of the year, meaning minimal activity for the facilities over the next 18 months.

“Our board has been forced to consider extremely difficult scenarios in order to future-proof the business and secure our remaining staff across Scotland,” read a statement from Bakkafrost.

“One of the scenarios proposed is that we close the Arnish Harvest Station and the Marybank Processing Facility for an extended period.

“We intend to start a period of collective consultation with those potentially affected and hope to complete this over the coming weeks.”

Western Isles SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said Bakkafrost was one of the biggest employers in the area and losing so many jobs would be “devastating”, adding that production at Marybank could be suspended until at least 2027.

Local Labour MP Torcuil Crichton added: “I have spoken to the company this week and realistically it does not look likely that the mothballed plant will be reopened.”

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