Unalaska, AK – Adak Seafoods, the new owner of the fish processing plant in Adak, was recently served a "notice to quit" by their landlords, Aleut Enterprise, LLC. The notice said that the company's lease to use the buildings expired on December 31, 2009 and the company must vacate the premises. Aleut Enterprise President Rudy Tsukada said they are not forcing the company out because of any ill-will toward the new owners.

"When Adak Seafoods purchased the assets of Adak Fisheries, the lease was considered one of the assets," Tsukada said. "The reason that the lease expired Dec. 31, 2009 is there was a provision within the lease that required a written notice of renewal 120 days prior to the end of the lease. The folks that were in charge of Adak Fisheries at the time chose not to, didn't, for whatever reason, did not renew and therefore the lease expired. We did not terminate it. It was simply not renewed by Adak Fisheries or any representative of Adak Seafoods, which are frankly, one and the same."

Adak Seafood is still on the premises and Aleut Enterprise cannot force an eviction until court litigation on the matter is closed. Adak Seafoods currently appears to be preparing to process fish.

Tsukada said Aleut Enterprise is pursing a new lease because the old lease was developed six years ago and did not protect Aleut Enterprises from financial harm. "What we're trying to do is maximize the value of that lease to shareholders. And I suppose that Adak Seafoods is welcome to place a proposal or come negotiate with us for a new lease."

Tsukada said other companies have approached Aleut Enterprises to discuss leasing the plant, which is the only processor on Adak Island, but they have had no firm offers or discussions. Tsukada said that once the litigation is complete, if Adak Seafoods is not guaranteed a new lease, the corporation will consider offers for the lease that provide long-term benefits for the community of Adak.

Adak Fisheries, which was primarily owned by Kjetl Solberg, first began processing at the plant in 1998. In September 2009 that company filed for bankruptcy. A new company, Adak Seafoods, which also includes Solberg, bought Adak Fisheries and assumed their nearly $7 million in debt to a bank in Rhode Island. Tsukada said Aleut Enterprise had a good relationship with Solberg and Adak Fisheries prior to their declaration of bankruptcy.