Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) has brought seafood industry veteran Patrick Weber back to the organization to oversee crab operations and longline sales.

Weber has been named crab operations and longline sales manager, returning to CVRF with more than 20 years of experience in commercial fishing, seafood sales and operations. He previously worked for the organization as a seafood sales representative from 2016 to 2019.

“We’re thrilled to welcome back Patrick. It’s something of a homecoming for him, and for us,” said Nick Souza, CEO of CVRF. “Pat is deeply knowledgeable across the sectors we work in, and his familiarity with our longline customers and operations gives us a strong foundation to build on.”

Since leaving CVRF in 2019, Weber has held director-level sales positions and managed logistics and value-added processing operations at Southeast Alaska salmon facilities. Most recently, he worked in sales and operations management at Bristol Wave Seafoods. His background also includes 10 years as an independent commercial fisherman in the Bering Sea.

In his new position, Weber will manage CVRF’s Bering Sea crab shares, including matching deliveries with quota allocations and negotiating sales. He will also lead the organization’s longline cod sales and work alongside CVRF vessel captains and operations staff.

“When Nick reached out, it wasn’t a hard decision,” Weber said. “CVRF has a mission that’s bigger than the bottom line. This work creates real value for the residents of our member communities, and that matters to me.”

CVRF operates through the Community Development Quota program, using Bering Sea fishing rights to support economic development in 20 western Alaska communities. The organization operates its own fishing fleet and uses revenue from its fishing operations to fund programs serving more than 9,100 residents.