Mundell hears about MH plans for Skye
SCOTTISH Secretary David Mundell met Marine Harvest CEO Alf-Helge Aarskog in Bergen last month to discuss the company’s developments in Scotland.
As part of a two-day trip to support trade and investment in Scotland, the minister visited the headquarters of the world’s biggest salmon farmer and heard about the company’s ‘exciting plans for Skye’, which include the building of its £93 million fish feed plant, currently under construction.
Mundell, in a Twitter posting from Bergen, said: ‘Norway is a really important partner for Scotland and the UK. We want to maintain those very strong relationships as we leave the EU and discuss the very important common interests we have, in the North Sea, in fishing and in other industries. ‘We got a very warm welcome, there’s a very positive feeling in Norway towards Scotland and the UK and that’s what we want to preserve as we go through the Brexit process.’
Marine Harvest’s feed plant, under construction at Altanavaig quarry, Kyleakin, on Skye, is due to be completed in autumn next year. It includes a 40m high main process building, 15 storage silos, and an intake tower. There is also a new pier by which raw materials will be brought in and fish feed sent out.
When operational, the plant will employ 55 staff, and a recruitment drive is underway to fill the posts, which include jobs in production, logistics, maintenance, and health and safety.