12 Changes in the Distribution of Halibut QS by Census Area

The tables in this section classify halibut QS holders into 1990 Alaska census areas. Entities that hold QS were assigned to a census area based upon addresses they provided NMFS-RAM. Persons who reside outside Alaska were put in a single nonresident category. The tables provide data on the initial distribution and the year-end 1996 distribution of halibut QS holdings.1

Table 12-1a provides a summary on the QS holdings of each resident category in each of the different halibut IFQ management areas. The table provides the initial QS holdings, the 1996 year-end QS holdings, the change in QS holdings during the year, and the percentage change in QS holdings. The table also shows the percentage of the total management area QS that was initially issued to persons in each census area. Similarly, it shows the percentage of the total IFQ management area QS that was held at year-end 1996 by persons in each census area.

Census areas that show relatively high amounts of QS held by Alaskans are: Juneau, Petersburg/Wrangell, and Sitka (Area 2C); Kodiak (Areas 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and 4C), Kenai Peninsula (Areas 3A, 3B, and 4A); Aleutian Islands West (Area 4C); and Bethel and Mat/Su Borough (Area 4E).

Persons who were initial QS recipients in coastal census areas also tended to increase their halibut QS holdings in IFQ regulatory areas that were more "local" to the census area. For example, persons from the Kodiak area have increased their halibut QS holdings in Areas 3B and 4A. Similarly, persons from Juneau, Sitka, and Petersburg/Wrangell have increased their halibut QS holdings in Area 2C.

As noted earlier, the proportion of halibut QS that was issued to persons who reside outside of Alaska was substantial in all halibut IFQ management areas except 4E. By the end of 1996, the amount of QS held by nonresidents decreased in IFQ Areas 2C, 3A, 4C, and 4D, and increased slightly in Areas 3B, 4A, and 4B.

Table 12-1b provides somewhat similar information on QS holders from each census area. The table shows, for each census area, the initial number of QS holders, the 1996 year-end number of QS holders, the change in the number of QS holders during the year, and the percentage change in the number of QS holders, for each IFQ management area and census area.

For each IFQ management area and census area, Table 12-1b also shows the initial average QS holdings, the 1996 year-end average QS holdings, the change in average QS holdings through 1996, and the percentage change in average QS holdings through 1996. The table includes the initial and year-end percentages of total initial QS recipients for the IFQ management area for each census area.

Table 12-1b shows that the Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg/Wrangell, Kodiak, and Kenai Peninsula census areas had relatively large numbers of persons with halibut QS. The Aleutians East and Aleutians West also had relatively large numbers of persons, particularly in the western halibut areas. The number of QS holders and average QS holdings are high in the "outside Alaska" category as well.

Table 12-1b demonstrates that there was some consolidation of QS holdings and a reduction in the number of QS holders since initial issuance for most census areas and IFQ management areas. In the few cases where the number of QS holders increased through 1996, the increases were very small.

The percent decline of QS holders from some census areas is particularly high in the non-CDQ Areas 2C through 4A. This could be related to QS holders from CDQ areas transferring their CDQ compensation QS.

The decline in the number of persons in a census area tended to lead to increases in the average QS per QS holder for that census area. However, in many census areas average QS holdings decreased from initial issuance through 1996, even when the number of QS holders had declined.

Table 12-1a. Initial Allocation and Year-end 1996 QS Holders by Management Area and Census Area

Table 12-1b. Initial Allocation and Year-end 1996 QS Holders by Management Area and Census Area