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Community Quota Program: Effective June 1, 2004
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BACKGROUND

Coils of longline gear in Old Harbor (Kodiak Island); Photo: Phil Smith, NMFS
Coils of longline gear in Old Harbor, Kodiak Island, Alaska.
Photo: Phil Smith, NMFS
When the halibut/sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program was implemented in 1995, it made a huge difference in how fishermen participated. And, although the program has resulted in significant benefits for fishermen, many quota holders in Alaska’s small coastal communities have chosen to transfer their Quota to others. As a result, the total amount of quota available to residents of these communities has declined over time.

To address this issue, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended changes to the IFQ program. The changes allow small coastal communities to form non-profit corporations that can obtain quota on behalf of the communities – by annually leasing the IFQ to community residents, fishing opportunities in the communities will increase. The Secretary of Commerce implemented this program in 2004.


REGULATIONS

  • Community Quota Program Final Rule: 69 FR 23861, April 30, 2004; Effective June 1, 2004
  • Table 21. Eligible GOA Communities, Halibut IFQ Regulatory Use Areas, and Community Governing Body that Recommends the Community Quota Entity


    PROGRAM SUMMARY

    • Eligible communities have fewer than 1500 people, are located on the coast of the Gulf of Alaska (and not a road system), have a history of halibut or sablefish fishing, and have been identified by the Council as eligible – there are 42 eligible communities
    • An eligible community will form a non-profit corporation to act on its behalf; the non-profit will apply to NMFS for recognition as a Community Quota Entity (CQE) and may buy and sell Quota for the community
    • Each year, the CQE will transfer (lease) its IFQ to one or more permanent residents of the community who will do the actual fishing
    • The CQE will continue to act on behalf of the community by purchasing more quota and helping more local fishermen to fish
    • The program does not allocate fish and it does not allocate money – instead, it allocates “opportunity” for community residents to improve their local economies
    • More information >>>

    LIMITS

    To insure that CQEs do not limit opportunities for others to enter the fisheries, certain limits apply
    • Caps are set on the amount of QS any one community may hold
    • Cumulative caps are set on the amount of QS that can be held by all communities
    • Additional limits on “blocks” of Quota are also established

    REPORTING
    • Each CQE must report on its annual activities, including who fished for the community, how much was fished, policy changes and similar information
    • Reports are provided to NMFS, who makes them available to the Council, the State of Alaska, and interested member of the public
    • The Council will review the program in five years, so changes are possible

    APPLICATIONS


    PARTICIPANTS


    RELATED INFORMATION



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