THE historic Hastings River Fishermen's Co-operative Ltd will close its doors on Tuesday.
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Twelve staff members will lose their jobs while local fishos will begin the task of sourcing new markets for their produce.
Co-op chairman Paul Hyde said Thursday's board meeting had finalised a number of procedurals matters relating to the closure.
"Everything is just about signed off," he said.
"We've written to the registrar of co-operatives seeking permission to close the doors and we will hand the keys over to a liquidator after tomorrow's closure.
"While the shopfront will close on Tuesday there is a bit of work to do behind the scenes. Probably the biggest issue, the ice machine, has now been sold to the Jerseyville Co-op and there are a few bits and pieces at the back end of the business still to be finalised."
Staff members Sharon McCudden, Jenny Williams and Anita Bellamy were philosophical about the closure.
"It's been coming and we were all aware of it," said Mrs McCudden.
"But it is still a sad time. We have plenty of regular customers who come in at the same time on the same day and order the same fish.
"Some of these (customers) are older so I am not sure how they will manage."
Mrs Williams said there was a realisation the industry was in trouble many years ago when the professional fishos were blocked from the river.
"That was probably the beginning of the end," she said.
"We are all now looking for work."
Mrs McCudden has spent 12 years serving at the counter while Helen Dobson is the longest serving staff member with 16 years' experience.
Current and former staff, along with board members are likely to hold a couple of social events in the coming weeks.