Stornoway creel factory to close due to 'falling demand'

A factory in Lewis that has manufactured creels for the fishing industry for more than 40 years is to close.

Gael Force Group said its decision to shut its Stornoway facility had followed a downturn in demand for the gear, which is used for catching shellfish.

The marine equipment and engineering company has not said how many staff were affected, but across its group it employs about 200 people.

Managing director Stewart Graham said a "strong" local jobs market had meant employees at the factory had been able to find alternative work.

Graham told BBC Naidheachdan that its staff were its "number one concern".

"We have an incredibly loyal and hardworking workforce," he said.

"We have multiple members of staff in the factory in Stornoway who have in excess of 30 years service."

Graham said he had seen cycles of high and low demand for creels over the last 40 years.

But he said there was a sense this time demand would not pick up again due to a lack of new people taking up creel fishing.

He added: "The factory is at the stage where it would need significant investment to bring it into modern compliance requirements and efficiencies.

"So that brings the market decision into even greater focus."