ALMOST 80 jobs are on the line as salmon processing in the Western Isles may come to an end.

Paul Steele, the leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said that 77 jobs were to be lost as the Faroese-owned firm Bakkafrost Scotland closes its Marybank Processing Site.

But Bakkafrost has said the site has been mothballed for around 18 months but may yet reopen.

Steele said that a further 80 jobs at hatchery sites across the Western Isles will be unaffected by company's move.

Representatives from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar met with the firm on Thursday, after it was announced that the site outside Stornoway, in Lewis, would see only minimal activity for the next 18 months.

There are significant doubts about whether it will ever reopen, with Torcuil Crichton, the islands’ newly elected Labour MP, saying he had met with Bakkafrost "and realistically it does not look likely".

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The council said it had asked Bakkafrost about its plans for impacted employees, the future of their operations in the Western Isles, and the reasons for their decision.

After the meeting, Steele said: “Our primary concern following this announcement is the wellbeing of the employees impacted by this decision and their families.

“Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will work alongside Skills Development Scotland and partners through the PACE programme to ensure employability support is available to all those impacted.

“This decision will also have a significant impact on local businesses who provided services to Bakkafrost.

“The Western Isles has made a significant and sustained contribution to aquaculture both in Scotland and globally.

“Our natural resources, the work of local businesses and the industry expertise of islanders have been crucial to the Scottish operations of Bakkafrost and other large-scale producers.

“The decisions made by Bakkafrost have not been made overnight. Removing 77 jobs from the Western Isles is incredibly significant and notification of this move should have been provided at a much earlier stage.

“Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will continue to engage directly with Bakkafrost to seek clarity on its future plans for the islands, including opportunities for the resumption of processing activity as part of its long-term production strategy.”

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said the loss of jobs was 'deeply worrying'

On Thursday, SNP MSP for the Western Isles Alasdair Allan said: “Obviously this news is devastating for the Isle of Lewis, and it will be a deeply worrying time for the employees of the plant and their families.

“This is one of the island’s largest employers and these job losses will have other knock-on impacts on smaller local business."

Labour MP Crichton said the news was “a grave blow for the Marybank employees – some of whom are long-serving and skilled staff – and the island economy”.

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