Application Development Period

The Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development is announcing regulations pertaining to the Department’s role in qualifying regional seafood development associations (RSDA) will be effective on February 24, 2005. Once effective, the Department may receive applications by organizations wishing to qualify as a RSDA. RSDAs, once formed, will have the ability to hold elections among fishing permit categories, to establish a tax on fish harvests for marketing, infrastructure, and other economic development efforts.

Starting February 4, 2005, the Department is holding an Application Development Period. Any person or parties interested in applying as an RSDA is encouraged to provide written notice addressing several items.

When providing written notice, an organization will describe its:

1. Proposed mission statement

2. Proposed management structure

3. Proposed economic development goals and strategies

4. Plan to involve all eligible commercial fishing permit holders from fisheries in each seafood development region for which the association seeks designation as a qualified regional seafood development associations

5. Mechanisms to administer state financial assistance fairly

6. Attempts to gain support from commercial fishing permit holders from fisheries in each seafood development region for which the organization seeks designation as a qualified regional seafood development association.

Each organization submitting written notice must also do so electronically. Notice must be no more than five (5) pages, not including attachments.

To meet its obligations under 3 AAC 149.020, the Department will be meeting with each organization that submits written notice of an intent to apply for a regional seafood development association. To review submissions from each organization and the Department's summary report from its meeting, click on the links below.

Regions

Southeast

Other Information: Tis Peterman, Treasurer, http://www.rainforestwild.org/index.html

Prince William Sound

Written notice: Pre-application for Qualification
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: The first RSDA, Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association, was formed on May 26, 2005. The Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Contact: Beth Polle.
Web address is www.copperrivermarketing.org
Phone: (907) 465-3812
Email: info@coppermarketing.org

Cook Inlet

Written notice: None Received
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: None.

Kodiak

Written notice: None Received
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: None.

Chignik

Written notice: None Received
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: None.

Alaska Peninsula / Aleutians

Written notice: Aleutia's Intent to Form an RSDA for Alaska Peninsula Region
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian RSDA has been approved to proceed to establish itself as the RSDA for the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutians through the Aleutia entity. For more information, contact: Tiffany Jackson, Aleutian_tiffany@arctic.net (907-383-5909).

Atka/Amlia Island

Written notice: None Received
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: None.

Bristol Bay

Kuskokwim

Written notice: None Received
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: None.

Norton Sound

Written notice: None Received
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: None.

Yukon/Kotzebue

Written notice: None Received
Summary from Meetings with Respondents: None Performed
Other Information: None.

Regional Seafood Development Association Application Guide

RSDA Regulations 3 AAC 149 (effective February 24, 2005)

Proposed Regulations for 3 AAC 148

For a copy of the Statutes for Regional Seafood Development Associations