Staff at Christchurch mussel factory could soon lose their jobs.

Sanford Limited is discussing the possibility of closing down the mussel processing facility, and has begun consulting with staff.

Sanford chief executive Volker Kuntzsch says if the closure goes ahead, the company will try its best to redeploy as many staff as possible.

He says wild spat supply is a huge issue for the industry, and current forecasts suggest the situation is unlikely to get any better for the next two to three years.

Over 230 people are currently employed at the Christchurch site.