Vision for a Regional CQE

While CQEs are a promising tool to anchor commercial fishing rights in communities long-term, the high cost of quota has limited their success. In Southeast, while many communities have formed CQEs, only the City of Hoonah has been able to purchase and regularly lease out IFQ. In order to move greater volumes of IFQ into community ownership and generate greater impact across the region, the Southeast Village Fisheries Collective has started planning a Regional Community Quota Entity in Southeast. A regional entity centralizes administration and fundraising capacity instead of placing burdens on individual communities to fundraise, purchase quota, and manage quota leasing. By connecting communities to each other and the wider Collective, Regional CQE participants will have greater access to fisheries opportunities and programs, providing a pathway for young fishermen to enter and sustain the industry and become leaders in their communities.