Pressure applied on IDA after Westport jobs losses

Fish feed company’s shock closure


22 jobs to go at Westport’s Quay

Aine Ryan

THE SHOCK announcement that twenty-two jobs are set to be lost when a Westport based fish feed company closes during December next has led the town’s Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring to call on the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to redouble their efforts to create investment in the town. 
Based at Westport harbour’s Roman Island, Skretting, which is the UK and Ireland’s largest producer of pellets for salmon and trout farms,  is owned by the Nutreco NV group. Fish feed for the Irish market will in future be produced at Skretting plants in Scotland and England.
During last week’s shock announcement, Mr Anthony Murphy, Managing Director, revealed that trading conditions had proved difficult over the last three years, with a significant fall in demand for salmon feed year-on-year and operational costs in Westport often twice as high as at other Skretting plants. 
Reacting to the news, Deputy Ring said: “I understand the company will cease production by Christmas. I am deeply sorry to hear of the loss of these jobs for both the staff and their families. Every effort should be made to assist these employees in finding alternative work or to obtain retraining.
“This is another hit to Westport town and its surrounding areas. The loss of any jobs, no matter how small, will come as a hammer blow to the economy of the town,” he continued.
“The local Business and Technology Park in Westport is under utilised and other potential investors need to be attracted to locate there,” added Deputy Ring.
Fianna FΡil’s Deputy Beverley Flynn also expressed her disappointment at the closure.
“I am very disappointed for the workers who have given such excellent service for over twenty years. I am also sorry for their families at what is a trying time for people who find themselves out of work”, Ms Flynn said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of  IFA Aquaculture, Mr Richie Flynn, said the closure was a clear signal of government neglect of this sector. He accused the government of failing to provide structures for the growth of aquaculture and criticised its licensing procedures. 
“Now fish farmers will have to import 100 per cent of their feed inputs. It is totally illogical and unnecessary for the government to continue to drag its heels in setting up a modern, responsive licencing system for an industry, which is struggling to keep up with increasing customer demand for our salmon and where prices remain buoyant. We have the sites, personnel and experience to significantly increase production but years of delays and excuses have left us with licences and a licencing system that cannot deliver for the modern market and modern fish farming systems,” Mr Flynn said.
He continued: “The aquaculture industry can provide jobs and exports right around the coast with the proper structural support from Government. Our competitors are racing ahead of us all around Europe, with the full support of their administrations. A simplified, speedy, cost effective, scientifically robust regulatory system that delivers licences which are fit for industry purpose is what is needed urgently if more job losses are to be avoided.”
Meanwhile, Westport Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn observed that while the news was very bad for both the employees and their families, it was now time for the local authority and business interests to seriously examine the future development of this area and the implmentation of a long term strategy.
Cllr Flynn said: “Unfortunately in this current economic situation it may be very hard for these workers to find employment in the near future. Talk about the IDA bringing in some new investment to the area is not realistic. The IDA is focused on regional centres like Galway, Cork, and Limerick. They don’t have a strategy for Mayo at all.”
He continued: “However, the strategy for the future development of the Quay area must focus on Westport’s branding as an adventure activities destination. The harbour must become a focal point for this and the Point should also be restored and regenerated as a swimming area.”
Skretting is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nutreco feed group, which is listed on the stock exchange in the Netherlands. It produces 1.3 million tonnes of fish-feed annually. Skretting has approximately 1,300 employees in eleven countries.