Sanford has made 17 workers redundant at its Bluff fish processing factory as it confirms its downsizing in the town.
Last month workers were told up to 30 jobs could go.
Sanford is moving its white-fish operations to Timaru and said there was potential for expansion of its salmon operations in Bluff in the future.
Bluff Community Board chair Ray Fife said that was cold comfort for those laid off.
“It’s 17 incomes that are no longer going into the community
“Sanford’s said they’re committed to expanding the salmon farming side of it but that’s still two, three years away so it’s a struggle for those workers”.
Mr Fife said work was not easy to come by in the town and 17 fewer incomes would be felt in the local economy.
Source: rnz.co.nz republished by arrangement.