ROSYTH will not be affected by fish farmer Marine Harvest's decision to shed up to 100 jobs across Scotland.

Councillor Mike Shirkie said that he has received assurances from the firm that its West Fife workforce would not be affected by its announcement last week.

Marine Harvest, the world's largest producers of Atlantic salmon, employs more than 600 people at more than 50 sites in Scotland but said jobs would be axed to make the business more efficient and sustainable.

That led to fears that employees at its processing plant in Admiralty Road could see their posts under threat, but Cllr Shirkie said: "Following the announcement by Marine Harvest Scotland that up to 100 jobs are to go following a recent review of their business, I was contacted by a number of residents who were anxious to know if this would affect Rosyth.

"I have been given assurances that the Rosyth processing plant is not affected by this announcement as it is part of the Marine Harvest Consumer Products division and not Marine Harvest Scotland.

"The plant will continue to produce a range of value added salmon products for the consumer markets."

The multi-million pound facility began producing consumer products in January last year and, in July, secured a contract with Sainsbury's to supply fresh and smoked salmon products to stores across the UK from November, taking the total number of jobs to 350.