Tag Archives: Coastal Villages Region Fund
Western Alaska villages, two CDQs acquire more crab quota, vessels
Thirty western Alaska communities, along with two community development quota entities are anticipating a boost in their economic future in a buyout deal in which they are acquiring $35 million in opilio and king crab quotas, plus full ownership of seven crab vessels. The buy-out of Mariner Companies in Seattle offers the rural communities a value equal to 3 percent of the total crab fishery, while Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. will acquire four of the fishing vessels and Coastal Villages Region Fund will acquire three vessels. >click to read< 12:49
Coronavirus: Seafood processors respond to COVID-19 with added precautions
Seafood industry processors say they are in ongoing discussions with local, state and federal partners,,, The seafood industry talking points including working around the clock on prevention and response, coordinating with partners that include public health officials, preventing the spread of COVID-19 within Alaska and keeping seafood safe, said Stephanie Madsen, executive director of the At-Sea Processors Association. The Seattle-based trade association represents six member companies who own and operate 16 U.S. flagged catcher/processor vessels participating principally in the Alaska Pollock fishery and West Coast Pacific whiting fishery. The group includes American Seafoods Co., Arctic Storm Management Group LLC, Coastal Villages Region Fund, Glacier Fish Company LLC, Aleutian Spray Fisheries Inc. and Trident Seafoods. >click to read< 20:56
Alaska Nonprofit in Conflict with the Villagers It’s Supposed to Serve
Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) in Southwest Alaska is at odds with the villages it was created to serve after shutting down its commercial salmon operation. CVRF is one of six coastal development quota groups (CDQs) created by the federal government back in the Nineties to boost the Western Alaskan economy. The idea was that the CDQs would use earnings from federal fisheries, royalties, and investments to invest in the local economy by creating employment opportunities and growth, particularly surrounding small-scale commercial fisheries. They achieve this in part by offering subsidies for commercial fisheries, loans for residents to purchase boats and outboards, building or improving fish processing facilities, and improving fish handling infrastructure. Aside from commercial fishing, CDQs also create internships with business partners, offer training, and create jobs with government agencies. The CVRF board felt that one village, Quinhagak, received an unfair advantage in its subsidies for its salmon operation. They shut down the operation but still continue to offer other benefits. What the CVRF board did not anticipate was that closing this operation would have downstream effects not only on Quinhagak, but also the surrounding villages. Read the rest here 16:27
When residents of an Alaska fishing village can’t fish, normal life comes to an end
Expensive fishing nets sit on the hardware store shelves, unsold. Families struggle to buy baby diapers, back-to-school clothes and gasoline for boats that take them to favorite berry-picking spots. Some people have seen their water cut off for lack of payment. Normal life is being upended in Quinhagak, a Southwest Alaska fishing village with no fishing this year for the commercial fleet. Skiffs are ready, kings were plentiful, silvers are starting to show up and brokers from the Seattle area who flew to the village say markets are eager for wild Alaska salmon. Frustrated fishermen and village leaders say the problem is their region’s community development nonprofit, which they say provides high salaries for executives and generous stipends for board members but no extra relief for this new stress in what’s already one of the poorest parts of the United States. “They left us with nothing,” said Frank Hill, 44, who had worked as dock supervisor for Coastal Villages. “It’s hard when you have five kids to take care of.” Read this story here 08:23
Coastal Villages Region Fund protesting low 2014 halibut quota
Because of catch limit changes by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the Coastal Villages Region Fund’s (CVRF’s) allowable catch will be reduced by almost 50 percent. During a brief two-week period in summer 2013, some 184 commercial halibut captains caught 210,248 pounds of halibut, exceeding the Coastal Villages’ quota for the year. Read more@alaskadispatch 04:54
Tug-of-war grows over portion of Seattle’s fishing fleet – Video
KIRO 7 
– SEATTLE — A tug-of-war over a portion of the Seattle-based fishing fleet is heating up. Coastal Villages Region Fund, the largest Alaska-based seafood company, has moved four boats from Seattle to Seward for the off-season and hopes to someday relocate the rest of the fleet. It currently has about two dozen vessels. continued
Coastal Villages Region Fund, the region’s largest Community Development Quota group, to raise salmon prices and processing wages
Spokesperson, Dawson Hoover, says they will be paying 15 cents more for their salmon this year, from 85 cents to a $1 per pound for all salmon species. He says they are paying more because the quality of the fish has improved. “We’ve been getting a much better product over the years, ever since we’ve implemented mandatory icing and bleeding,” Hoover says. “Our fishermen are getting better at delivering a better catch, so we’re rewarding them with higher prices this year.” continued
A very good year at Coastal Villages Region Fund – Deckboss
Eye-opening compensation levels at some of Alaska’s six Community Development Quota companies are old news. But still interesting. The example cited most often is that of Morgen Crow, executive director at Coastal Villages Region Fund. He made $475,000 in 2011, according to the company’s latest annual report. Read More
Alaska fish fight over community development riches turns nasty – Alaska Dispatch
Divvying up the fish,,,,A case for change,,,,,$54 million in pollock,,,,A positive face,,,,,On the attack,,,,,Profitable halibut fishing,,,,,http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/alaska-fish-fight-over-community-development-riches-turns-nasty?page=full
