Icicle calls it quits on Adak

Here's a press release from Icicle Seafoods:

April 19, 2013

Icicle continues Alaska expansion, plans to close Adak operation

Icicle Seafoods Inc. has decided to close its operation in Adak, in the Aleutian Islands, citing concerns about the short- and long-term health of the region's Pacific cod resource and increased regulatory uncertainty.

"Icicle has worked incredibly hard in the two years since we took it over to make the Adak plant a viable operation," said Amy Humphreys, Icicle's new president and CEO. "We strongly support policies that encourage the development and sustainability of Alaska's coastal communities and recognize this goal is often best achieved with a resident fishing fleet and year-round seafood processing operation. However, given the questionable outlook for the Pacific cod fishery in the area and the high costs of operating in this remote location, we have decided to focus our resources in other areas within our Alaska operations."

Icicle Seafoods has invested heavily elsewhere in Alaska in recent years, most recently completing the purchase of a second shore-based seafood processing facility in Bristol Bay. The addition of the Wood River facility in Dillingham will significantly increase Icicle's capacity to produce high-quality sockeye salmon fillets. Herring and chum and pink salmon will also be processed at the facility.

The purchase was the final step of Icicle's acquisition of Snopac Products assets, which began in 2012.

"The strategic acquisition of the Wood River facility is yet another step in our growth strategy as a leading processor of salmon and other seafood products," Humphreys said. "Icicle is well-positioned with its diversified harvesting and processing infrastructure and its broad, quality product offerings to further strengthen and build upon the founding vision put into motion almost 50 years ago: to be a superior, diversified seafood company offering premier service and commitment to our customers, fishermen and employees."

Previous Alaska investments include the major expansion of Icicle's Petersburg processing facility in 2011; the purchase of the processing vessel Snopac Innovator, renamed the Gordon Jensen in honor of one of Icicle's founders, in the spring of 2012; the installation of a new cod production line on the Gordon Jensen; and the purchases of the AFA trawl catcher vessels Hickory Wind and Progress, in 2011 and 2012.