News / Eight new jobs as salmon replaces crab
EIGHT new jobs are set to be created in Yell after the local crab processing factory has been taken over by the Meridian Salmon Group.
The company, which has a number of salmon growing sites in Yell and on neighbouring Unst, is in the process of installing modern processing equipment in the Mid-Yell factory.
Meridian acquired the premises from Shetland Norse Preserving Company (SNPC), who have processed locally caught shellfish for many years.
Only last month, a Scalloway based company moved into crab processing, thereby creating nine new jobs, after the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) approved QA Fish’s facilities at Blacksness Pier.
Meridian director Willie Young said the investment showed the company’s continued commitment to the wider community in the north isles.
“Acquiring the old crab factory was an ideal solution to expand our processing capacity.
“The location of the crab factory was key to our decision, since being located next to our existing facility will ensure a smooth transition to our new plant.
“Work has already begun and all going well we will hopefully be fully operational by the first week in September 2013,” he said.
Meridian is one of the five large salmon farming companies in Scotland, employing 350 people particularly in small communities in Shetland, Orkney and the west coast.
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