A new company known as Dutch Harbor Acquisitions LLC has purchased the assets of the Harbor Crown processing plant located in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Dutch Harbor Acquisitions LLC is led by Siu Alaska Corporation and Copper River Seafoods.
Siu Alaska Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC), a private, non-profit Community Development Quota corporation which represents fifteen member communities in the Norton Sound Region including over 8,500 residents. NSEDC owns quota for red king crab, snow crab, and golden king crab, as well as halibut and sablefish IFQ and CDQ quotas. NSEDC and Siu also have ownership interests in a number of Bering Sea vessels including Pollock at-sea catcher processors, a cod freezer-longliner and crab vessels. NSEDC uses the profits from these activities to provide support to the subsistence and commercial fisheries, education, employment and other economic development activities in the Norton Sound region.
Copper River Seafoods, Inc. is participating in Dutch Harbor Acquisitions, LLC, through Western Alaska Ventures LLC., which is a partnership between Copper River Seafoods, Inc., Anchorage, AK, Stuart and Benett Kozloff owners of International Seafood Ventures LLC, Seattle, WA., and James Gonzalez owner of Pacific Harvest Seafood, Bellevue, WA. Copper River Seafoods is a significant producer of fin fish, primarily salmon, halibut and cod products with five operating companies and plants strategically located in Alaska’s Southeast, Central, Togiak and Bristol Bay regions.
Regarding the purchase of the plant, which currently sits dormant, Scott Blake, President of Copper River Seafoods states: “We are excited about the opportunity to expand into the Bering Sea and Aleutian chain regions with such strategic partners. This allows our group total access to Alaska’s vast resources.”
John Eckels, President of Siu, stated: “The joining of these entities gives us a unique perspective and delivery mechanism through the supply chain and gives us a solid foothold for future expansion in the largest seafood landing port in the world. It will also provide job opportunities and further economic stability to our member communities in the region.”
The plant will operate under the trade name Bering Star Fisheries LLC and will be purchasing and processing halibut, cod, black cod and crab with plans to be open and operating by the end of 2010. The plant will be the only 100 percent Alaskan owned and Alaskan operated plant in Dutch Harbor.
