THE Isle of Skye could be in line for a jobs-boosting £80 million fish feed factory, writes Janice Burns.

Marine Harvest has announced that the site of an old quarry known as Altanavaig (Allt Anabhaig) at Kyleakin is its preferred location for the development which would create 55 full-time permanent posts.

The world’s leading seafood company and largest producer of farmed salmon said the plant would produce food for the firm’s Scottish fish farms as well as those in Norway, Ireland and the Faroe Islands.

Ben Hadfield, managing director of Marine Harvest Scotland said: “We are delighted to have found a site which sits at the heart of our operations – one that is already an industrial site but which has not been fully utilised for some time.

“We would like to have the chance to bring it back to life and provide well-paid jobs, as well as taking the opportunity to produce our feed in the most sustainable way.

“This is a large investment in Scotland and the development of a feed plant here is part of our overall drive to become a more efficient and sustainable business.”

Marine Harvest hopes the new plant will be up and running by 2018 and revealed they made the decision after looking at other sites on the west coast.

Hadfield added: “This is a great opportunity for Kyleakin and the local economy and we hope to have the chance to discuss our plans with the local community as soon as possible.

“We hope this will be a major boost for the local economy and we are keen to start discussions with the local community.”