Bakkafrost Scotland's salmon processing facilities at Marybank and Arnish, in the Isle of Lewis, face an extended shutdown, resulting in the potential loss of approximately 80 jobs, reports BBC. 

Though temporary, this measure is likely to last for 18 months due to the minimal activity expected during that period.

Bakkafrost explained that the majority of its fish were harvested earlier in the year, leading to this proposal, which aims to "future-proof the business and secure the positions of the remaining staff across Scotland." 

"Our board has been forced to consider extremely difficult scenarios," said a Bakkafrost Scotland spokesperson. "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."

Alasdair Allan, a politician serving as a member of the Scottish parliament, expressed deep concern over the proposed shutdown, highlighting the severe impact it would have on the local community.

"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 best employers, and these job losses will have other knock-on impacts on smaller local businesses," he said. 

Allan noted that production at Marybank might be suspended until at least 2027, although he was reassured that there would be no job losses at the company's farms across the Western Isles.

Bakkafrost Scotland is set to begin a collective consultation period with the potentially affected employees, hoping to finalize decisions in the coming weeks.