Purpose, Values, and History

Purpose

APICDA is dedicated to sustaining six rural Alaska villages in the Aleutian-Pribilof region. We are one of six Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) organizations. The CDQ program allocates a percentage of all Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands quotas for ground fish, halibut and crab to eligible CDQ groups that represent 65 villages. APICDA and its subsidiary companies generate proceeds through the management of the quotas and uses proceeds to achieve its charitable purpose of sustaining the communities of Akutan, Atka, False Pass, Nelson Lagoon, Nikolski and St. George.

Values

History

The CDQ program was created to provide economically disadvantaged communities in western Alaska with the opportunity to generate capital with which they could develop stable local economies based upon the fishing industry. Since 1992, the CDQ groups have generated over $1 billion in assets, built needed infrastructure in the participating villages to stimulate commerce and provided thousands of scholarships and workforce development opportunities.

The CDQ program was established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The legislation has had a tremendous impact on the fishing industry in Alaska and the nation.

CDQ eligibility is determined by four requirements: the village is located within 50 nautical miles of the Bering Coast; village residents conduct half of their commercial or subsistence activities in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island regions; the village is recognized under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA); and, at the time the program was established in 1992, there was no established harvesting capacity to support substantial participation in the ground fish industry.

For more information about the CDQ program please visit:
North Pacific Fishery Management Council
Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration