Marine Harvest to axe 100 seafood jobs

Scotland’s largest salmon farming company yesterday (January 21) announced the restructure, which will affect jobs in departments across different regions.

Marine Harvest Scotland md Ben Hadfield said: “We will be sorry to see staff leaving, as we have a highly skilled and talented team here at Marine Harvest Scotland. ​

‘Moving at a fast pace’​

“However, the industry is moving at a fast pace and fish farming is in a very different place today from where it was 10 or even five years ago.” ​

The subsidiary of Norwegian seafood company Marine Harvest has entered a period of consultation with staff representatives over the job cuts.

Marine Harvest said the restructure was part of its drive to make the business “more efficient and sustainable”​.

‘Ensure business is sustainable’​

“We have to ensure the business is sustainable and is fit to meet the challenges we face moving forward,” ​Hadfield said.

“By taking this action now we can be more certain of maintaining jobs in the future.”​

The firm’s new Rosyth processing plant was not affected by the restructure, although its start-up costs were higher than expected. Plans to create a feed plant in Scotland will also continue.

The company has contacted local agencies and politicians and pledged to “do everything it can”​ to help affected staff find new employment.

Young’s Seafood decided to cut 650 jobs in Scotland last year after losing a £100M salmon processing contract​ with Sainsbury to Marine Harvest. 

Sainsbury was due to start sourcing its salmon from Marine Harvest’s Rosyth facility​ from November 2015. In July Unite said Marine Harvest planned to recruit 350 people within a year​. 

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