The Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program was developed by the Council in 1992. The program allocates a percentage of all Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands quotas for groundfish, halibut, crab, and prohibited species limits to 6 CDQ groups, representing 65 Western Alaska communities.
The purpose of the CDQ Program is to
- (i) to provide eligible western Alaska villages with the opportunity to participate and invest in fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area;
- (ii) to support economic development in western Alaska; (iii) to alleviate poverty and provide economic and social benefits for residents of western Alaska; and
- (iv) to achieve sustainable and diversified local economies in western Alaska.
Amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 2006 made significant changes to the program. These changes included elements associated with CDQ Program administration and oversight, percentage allocations of annual CDQ Program catch limits, and permanent eligibility status for current CDQ communities.
CDQ groups:
- Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Corporation (APICDA)
- Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC)
- Central Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association (CBSFA)
- Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF)
- Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC),
- Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association (YDFDA).
The staff contact is Sarah Marrinan: 907-271-2814