Gael Force Group has confirmed it is to end creel production at its Stornoway factory on the Isle of Lewis, drawing a line under more than 40 years of continuous manufacturing on the island. The Inverness‑headquartered aquaculture and marine equipment supplier said the decision followed a prolonged period in which the viability of the operation had been in doubt, despite the plant’s pivotal role as the “genesis” of the wider Gael Force story.
The Stornoway factory has produced lobster and shellfish creels for customers across the UK and Ireland since the early 1980s, building a reputation for robust gear tailored to inshore fisheries. Over that time, the workforce has come to include multiple long‑serving employees with more than 30 years’ service, led by manager Ewen France, who was the first person hired at the site when creel production began. Company leaders acknowledged the emotional weight of the closure for staff and the community, describing the plant as the “acorn that grew the oak tree” of Gael Force’s wider group.
In a statement, Gael Force said it had continued to support the Stornoway operation “for as long as feasible”, even as commercial pressures mounted and the factory faced rising compliance and efficiency requirements. Managing director Stewart Graham has previously highlighted falling demand for traditional creels and the lack of a clear business case for the significant reinvestment now needed to modernise the site. Ultimately, the group concluded that wholesale production on Lewis was no longer sustainable, and opted to wind down activity over the coming months rather than pursue a major upgrade.
The closure will result in around a dozen redundancies, with roles tapering off on a phased basis as remaining orders are completed. Some positions are expected to continue into later in the year, while others have already ended, leaving affected staff to seek new opportunities in a local economy where marine‑related employment is a key pillar. The announcement comes against a backdrop of wider restructuring in the island’s seafood sector, including previous temporary closures and job losses at salmon processing plants near Stornoway.
Despite shutting the Stornoway facility, Gael Force is keen to stress that it remains a major supplier of fishing gear, including creels, to professional operations throughout the UK and internationally. The group will continue to sell creels manufactured to its designs at a long‑established factory in the Far East, which has been producing for the company for around 15 years. Sales managers Douglas Bowman and Stuart Cameron will carry on supporting creel customers, and the firm insists its order books are healthy, with wider operations across Scotland and beyond “continuing to go from strength to strength.”
Gael Force’s leadership has repeatedly underlined the strength of its commitment to the Highlands and Islands, pointing to ongoing investment programmes and growth plans in aquaculture technology, pen manufacturing and semi‑closed containment systems. The group is pursuing international expansion in aquaculture equipment and has embarked on multi‑million‑pound research and development projects such as its SeaQureFarm and SeaQureWell concepts. Against that backdrop, the Stornoway closure reflects a strategic shift rather than a retreat from the sector, with resources being redirected towards areas deemed to offer stronger long‑term returns.
A spokesperson for Gael Force Group told Fish Focus: “Gael Force will remain a major supplier not only of creels and fishing gear, but also of the advanced marine equipment we design and build for professional fishing fleets around the world’
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“Our journey began here in the Western Isles, and those island roots will always be part of who we are. We look ahead to further growth and development, and we thank our customers and colleagues for being part of our story so far.”
For Stornoway and the wider Lewis community, however, the end of creel production at Island Road is a symbolic loss as well as an economic one, removing a manufacturing anchor that has supported local families for generations. As the last orders pass through the factory and staff prepare to move on, Gael Force has paid tribute to its “loyal and hardworking” workforce and the island customers who helped build the business from its earliest days. The group now faces the challenge of balancing its future‑focused growth ambitions with the legacy of a site that has been central to its identity for more than four decades.
