Fish farming firm Marine Harvest is set to cut 100 jobs in Scotland.

Jobs are under threat at 58 sea farms, freshwater lochs and hatcheries in the Highlands, Western Isles and Argyll.

Marine Harvest's fish processing plant at Rosyth will not be affected by the decision, which the firm said would help maintain jobs in the future.

Managing director Ben Hadfield said: “We will be sorry to see staff leaving, as we have a highly skilled and talented team here at Marine Harvest Scotland.

"However, the industry is moving at a fast pace and fish farming is in a very different place today from where it was ten or even five years ago.

"We have to ensure the business is sustainable and is fit to meet the challenges we face moving forward. By taking this action now we can be more certain of maintaining jobs in the future.”

The Norwegian firm's Rosyth processing plant, where 260 new jobs were created in 2015, will not be affected by the cuts.

Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is in contact with Marine Harvest during Thursday's First Minister's questions.

She said: "The Scottish Government is in contact with the company, which has approached Highlands and Islands Enterprise to identify redeployment opportunities, and my officials will shortly meet the company to discuss what can be done to support staff.

"We remain fully supportive of the sector, which is a key industry for Scotland in the context of supporting employment, particularly in our remote coastal communities.

"The industry is currently estimated to generate economic activity worth more than £1.8bn a year in Scotland, supporting more than 8000 jobs.

"It is an extremely important sector and the Government’s response will recognise that."