Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

What Bering Sea Fishermen's Association does

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association (BSFA) is a nonprofit fishermen's association incorporated in Alaska and headquartered at 3705 Arctic Blvd #955, Anchorage. Founded in 1979 by western Alaska commercial fisheries leaders, BSFA represents both commercial and subsistence fishermen across the Arctic, Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Bristol Bay regions, with the explicit objective of giving those communities a voice in the sustainability and development of Bering Sea and western Alaska fishery resources. The organization pursues its mission through four documented program areas: Fishery Development, Interdisciplinary Research, Advocacy and Stewardship, and Empowering Communities, supplemented by freshwater salmon monitoring projects.

BSFA does not sell a traditional product or technology offering. Instead, its core "product" is coordinated advocacy and program delivery, including direct participation in federal, state, and international regulatory forums such as the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, Alaska Board of Fisheries, International Pacific Halibut Commission, Yukon River Panel, and North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission. Over time it has co-established institutional infrastructure including the six Community Development Quota (CDQ) corporations via the Western Alaska Communities Development Association, the AYK Sustainable Salmon Initiative, the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association, the Norton Sound Salmon Research and Restoration Program, the AYK Tribal Consortium, and physical assets such as the Quinhagak fish processing plant and cold storage facilities in Tununak, Mekoryuk, and Toksook Bay. Its website (bsfaak.org) hosts downloadable fact sheets on Fishery Development, Interdisciplinary Research, and Advocacy/Responsible Stewardship.

BSFA's revenue model is non-commercial and grant/appropriation-based. Documented inflows include an FY94 Congressional direct appropriation of $800,000 for freshwater salmon monitoring and a $599,053 U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant dated 2020-09-16. The organization is governed by a community-representative board with members from Kotzebue, Dillingham, Unalakleet, Kwigillingok, Manokotak, Anchorage, Togiak, Alakanuk and other villages, with Karen Gillis serving as Program Director. Headcount is reported as 11–50 employees.

Name

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

Legal name

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

Website

https://bsfaak.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association is a nonprofit, Anchorage-based fishermen's association founded in 1979 that advocates for commercial and subsistence fishing communities across the Arctic, Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Bristol Bay regions of western Alaska.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fishery Advocacy and Research Services

NAICS

Fishing (11411)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Fishery development
• Salmon monitoring
• Fisheries advocacy
• Community development quotas
• Subsistence fishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association is a non-profit membership association that represents subsistence and commercial fishermen in western Alaska through fishery development, interdisciplinary research on salmon populations, advocacy in regulatory forums, and freshwater salmon monitoring funded in part by congressional appropriation. The organization's core activities include constructing fish processing and cold storage infrastructure, supporting commercial halibut and herring fisheries, and running cooperative research and education programs that empower Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim-Bristol Bay fishing communities.

Product overview

Bering Sea Fishermen's Association (BSFA) is a nonprofit industry association representing commercial and subsistence fishermen in western Alaska, established in 1979. BSFA does not offer a traditional product/service portfolio; instead, it provides organizational programs and initiatives focused on fishery development, research, advocacy, community empowerment, and salmon monitoring. The organization connects fishing communities with regulatory bodies and pursues cooperative research and educational programs, functioning as a advocacy and coordination entity rather than a product-based company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Development Quota Program Fisheries economic development program that allocated quota shares to western Alaska communities, launching six Community Development Quota corporations to provide economic development opportunities for coastal villages.
• Western Alaska Herring Fishery Development Development of commercial herring fisheries for western Alaska fishermen, including regulatory and market development work led by BSFA.
• Western Alaska Commercial Halibut Fishery Development Development of commercial halibut fisheries for western Alaska pursued through the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
• Freshwater Salmon Monitoring Program Freshwater salmon stock monitoring projects in western Alaska funded under a congressional direct appropriation, providing data on salmon runs in the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim region.
• Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative Fisheries research and coordinating initiative launched by BSFA to address salmon run declines across the AYK region, supporting interdisciplinary research and coordinated management.
• Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association Fisheries organization launched by BSFA to support sustainable salmon initiatives in the Yukon River drainage area.
• Norton Sound Salmon Research and Restoration Program Research program launched by BSFA to support salmon restoration in the Norton Sound region of western Alaska.
• Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Consortium Tribal consortium launched by BSFA to coordinate tribal participation in salmon management decisions across the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim region.
• Quinhagak Fish Processing Plant and Regional Cold Storage Facilities Fish processing and cold storage infrastructure constructed by BSFA, including the Quinhagak fish processing plant and cold storage facilities in Tununak, Mekoryuk, and Toksook Bay.
• King Salmon Saving Areas Program Program establishing king salmon saving areas in the Bering Sea to protect declining Chinook salmon populations in western Alaska.
• Alaska Board of Fish Regional Advisory Committees Regional advisory committees to the Alaska Board of Fisheries established with BSFA's involvement, giving fishermen regional input into state fisheries regulatory processes.
• U.S. Coast Guard High Seas Anti-Piracy Initiative Initiative in which BSFA negotiated U.S. Coast Guard surveillance and enforcement to guard against foreign high seas piracy activity in the Bering Sea, leading to the elimination of high seas interception of western Alaskan salmon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established Community Development Quota Program that launched six CDQ corporations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western Alaska Communities Development Association (WACDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1979BSFA co-established the Community Development Quota Program with Harold Sparck through WACDA, which launched six CDQ corporations providing economic development opportunities for western Alaska communities.
• Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Sustainable Salmon Initiative (AYK SSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA launched this fisheries research and coordinating program to address salmon run declines across the AYK region.
• Yukon River Drainage Fisheries AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA launched this organization to support sustainable salmon initiatives in the Yukon River drainage area.
• Norton Sound Salmon Research and Restoration ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA launched this research program to support salmon restoration in Norton Sound region.
• Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA launched this tribal consortium to coordinate tribal participation in salmon management decisions.
• U.S. Coast GuardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA negotiated for U.S. Coast Guard surveillance and enforcement to guard against foreign high seas piracy activity in the Bering Sea.
• North Pacific Fisheries Management CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA participates in this federal regulatory body that manages fishery resources in the North Pacific and Bering Sea.
• Alaska Board of FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA participates in state regulatory body and helped establish Alaska Board of Fish Regional Advisory Committees.
• International Pacific Halibut CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA helped develop commercial halibut fisheries for western Alaska through this international regulatory body.
• North Pacific Anadromous Fish CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA participates in this international commission dealing with anadromous fish species.
• Yukon River PanelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSFA participates in this regulatory panel addressing Yukon River salmon management issues.
• Bristol Bay Buy-back CoalitionminorOthersBSFA launched this coalition which was dissolved after Department of Interior's July 31, 1995 decision on the buy-back program.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Fisheries Institute: A national trade association for the U.S. seafood industry, including harvesters, processors, and distributors. Comparable to BSFA at the industry-representation level, but operates nationally across all species and segments rather than a single regional fishing community.
• Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute: A state-level marketing and promotion entity for Alaska seafood, with a much broader portfolio and funding base than BSFA. Comparable as a sector-supporting organization for the same Alaska fisheries, but with a statewide promotional mandate rather than a community advocacy one.

Direct peers

• At-Sea Processors Association: A trade association representing the Alaska at-sea processing sector, active in North Pacific Fisheries Management Council proceedings. Comparable to BSFA as a member-based, Alaska-rooted organization with formal seats at the same federal regulatory forums.
• North Pacific Fisheries Association: Represents harvester groups in the federal groundfish and crab fisheries of the North Pacific, with active engagement in the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Directly comparable to BSFA in council participation and industry advocacy.
• Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations: A west-coast fishermen's association representing commercial fishing families and community-based fishing organizations. Like BSFA, it is a nonprofit, member-driven advocacy body engaged in regulatory representation, habitat conservation, and community empowerment for working fishermen.
• Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation: A nonprofit dedicated to research, education, and technology development for Alaska's commercial fishing industry. Closely comparable to BSFA in combining applied research, community support, and industry development for Alaska fishermen.
• Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association: An association of independent longline fishermen in Alaska focused on sustainable fishing practices, bycatch reduction, and market access. Comparable to BSFA in representing small-boat commercial fishermen and participating in North Pacific regulatory processes.
• Seafood Harvesters of America: A national harvester advocacy organization representing commercial fishermen on federal fisheries policy. Comparable to BSFA in advocating for small and mid-sized commercial fishing operations in federal regulatory forums.
• Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Alliance: An Alaska-based fishermen's alliance advocating for sustainable management of salmon, herring, and other fisheries in Southeast Alaska. Directly comparable to BSFA in mission, nonprofit structure, and engagement with the Alaska Board of Fisheries and federal councils.

Others

• Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (NOAA): A NOAA research laboratory conducting oceanographic and climate research in the North Pacific, including the Bering Sea. Relevant to BSFA because ecosystem data from PMEL underpins the salmon and climate science that BSFA's advocacy relies on, though it is a federal research entity rather than an advocacy peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bering Sea Fishermen's Association