Salmon seminar with focus on securing island jobs

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be convening the seminar to discuss the future of the aquaculture industry in the Outer Hebrides. Held in the council chambers in Stornoway on Monday, February 23, attendees will include industry participants, agencies, Scottish Government, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, local MP Angus MacNeil and MSP Alasdair Allan. The workshop will look for practical solutions to help secure the future of the industry at local, regional and national levels. This is an effort to ensure that employment is maximised and value is retained in the area. Archie MacDonald, HIE area manager, said recent events had been a blow for the industry on the islands : "The reduction in economic activity in the aquaculture sector, notably fish processing jobs in the area and most recently at Lighthouse Caledonia, is obviously a blow to the Outer Hebrides. The aim of this workshop is for all the relevant parties to come together to find practical, workable solutions for the area. “We are confident that between us we can enhance the local economic benefits from this important sector, using a partnership between the public and private sectors to do so," he added.