The Coastal Restoration Society

What The Coastal Restoration Society does

The Coastal Restoration Society (CRS) is a Canadian non-profit environmental restoration organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Port Alberni, British Columbia. CRS delivers industrial-scale marine and inland environmental remediation services - including derelict vessel removal, ghost fishing gear retrieval, abandoned aquaculture site remediation, European green crab control, shoreline cleanup, and emergency flood debris response - on behalf of Indigenous Nations, provincial agencies (Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy), and federal agencies (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Environment and Climate Change Canada). Operations are anchored by an "Indigenous First Approach" that prioritizes employment, contracts, and capacity-building for First Nations communities across the Nuu-chah-nulth, Coast Salish, and Mi'kmaq territories.

Service delivery is built around a proprietary asset base that includes tug and barge vessels, research vessels, ROVs, occupational dive teams, high-speed landing craft, and heavy equipment (excavators, loaders, cranes, bin trucks), augmented by an AI-assisted ROV and side-scan sonar capability for underwater survey and ALDFG site prioritization. CRS runs nine named programs at the time of the input data, with documented cumulative outputs of roughly 3.5 million kilograms of debris removed, 100 of an estimated 10,000 derelict Pacific-region vessels cleared, and 688,000+ invasive European green crabs trapped.

The revenue model is grant- and contract-driven rather than commercial: funding flows through federal and provincial program grants (including the Province of British Columbia's Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative), supplemented by public donations via the coastrestore.com website. The organization has no disclosed unit pricing, no equity investors, and no parent entity; program scale is governed by government appropriations and Indigenous partnership scope. Notable customers include the Province of British Columbia, DFO, Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, Parks Canada, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Ahousaht First Nation, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, and Nova Scotia First Nations.

Name

The Coastal Restoration Society

Legal name

Coastal Restoration Society

Website

https://coastrestore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Coastal Restoration Society is a Canadian non-profit that delivers industrial-scale marine and inland environmental remediation services - including derelict vessel removal, ghost gear retrieval, invasive species control, and flood debris response - for Indigenous Nations and federal and provincial government agencies across Pacific and Atlantic Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Remediation Services

NAICS

Remediation Services (562910)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup) (TLAHAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Asset Recovery & Decommissioning (Derelict Vessels, Abandoned Property) (IMAJANAI), Marine & Coastal Remediation (Shoreline/Port Spill Cleanup) (IMAIAGAI), Environmental Disaster Response & Debris Management (Floods, Hurricanes, Wildfires) (EUAIAMAF), Pollution Response & Environmental Salvage (Oil Spill, HAZMAT) (IMAJANAF)

Keywords

• Environmental remediation services
• Marine debris removal
• Ghost gear retrieval
• Invasive species management
• Habitat restoration projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Tofino

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: CRS operates primarily through government funding from Federal and Provincial Governments including the Province of British Columbia's Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, and Indigenous Services Canada. Funding supports projects like derelict vessel removal, ghost gear retrieval, flood response, and invasive species control.
2. Donations: CRS accepts donations from the public through its website to support environmental restoration efforts. The organization describes donations as helping to restore coasts and the natural coastal environment and cultures that depend on it.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Coastal Restoration Society (CRS) is a non-profit organization that delivers industrial-scale environmental restoration services including derelict vessel removals, ghost gear retrieval, marine debris cleanup, invasive species mitigation (notably European green crabs), abandoned aquaculture site remediation, and emergency flood debris response. Projects are executed through direct contracts with federal and provincial government agencies and partnerships with Indigenous Nations across Canada's Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

Product overview

The Coastal Restoration Society (CRS) is a non-profit environmental restoration organization offering a comprehensive suite of marine and environmental remediation services rather than a traditional software product. The core service portfolio includes Environmental Remediation, Project Management, Research and Monitoring, Invasive Species Mitigation (particularly European green crab control), Salvage and Recovery, Marine Operations, Heavy Equipment Operations, Complex Field Logistics, and AI/ROV/Side Scan Sonar Services for underwater inspection. CRS operates multiple environmental projects including the Clean Coast Clean Waters Initiative, Ghost Gear Retrieval, Abandoned Boats Program, Abandoned Aquaculture Site Removals, BC Emergency Flood Response, South Coast European Green Crab Control, Atlantic Ghost Gear Retrieval, and Ahousaht Community Revitalization. These services are delivered through strategic partnerships with Indigenous communities, federal and provincial governments, and NGOs, focusing on industrial-scale environmental restoration with an Indigenous First approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Removed 100 derelict vessels out of 10,000 identified in Pacific region
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cermaq CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CRS on the Ahousaht Community Revitalization project for habitat rehabilitation and environmental resilience.
• Ahousaht First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary Indigenous partner for multiple projects including community revitalization, shoreline cleanup, ghost gear retrieval, and derelict vessel removal. CRS works under Indigenous First Approach with this Nation.
• Tla-o-qui-aht First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in European green crab control, shoreline cleanup, and derelict vessel removal projects on their traditional territorial waters.
• Hesquiaht First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in shoreline cleanup, derelict vessel removal, and European green crab control projects in Clayoquot Sound.
• Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents multiple First Nations in Nuu-chah-nulth region, partnered on multiple environmental restoration projects.
• T'Sou-ke First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in European green crab control project in Sooke Basin, participating in trapping plans and field work.
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing funding and regulatory support for ghost gear retrieval, abandoned aquaculture site removals, and invasive species mitigation through AIS and Science departments.
• Transport CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner funding derelict vessel removal program. Identified approximately 10,000 derelict vessels in Pacific region.
• Province of British ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor government partner funding Clean Coast Clean Waters Initiative, abandoned aquaculture site removals, and flood response through Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
• Canadian Coast GuardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner supporting derelict vessel program and marine environmental response.
• Environment and Climate Change CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government partner for environmental protection and climate change mitigation projects.
• Parks CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in shoreline cleanup and marine habitat restoration initiatives.
• Global Ghost Gear InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO focused on addressing ghost gear, aligned with CRS ghost gear retrieval mission.
• Ocean ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner in ocean conservation efforts supporting environmental restoration.
• Pacific Salmon FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in European green crab research and salmon habitat protection collaboration.
• Ocean Legacy FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CRS in March 2022 to support atmospheric river flood recovery efforts in BC.
• Scotian ShorescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Atlantic Ghost Gear 2023 Hurricane Fiona Relief project throughout Nova Scotia.
• Glooscap First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlantic Canada Indigenous partner in Hurricane Fiona ghost gear retrieval project.
• Mi'kmaq people / Nova Scotia First NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Nations partners in Nova Scotia (Eskasoni, Membertou, Potlotek, Wagmatcook, Wekoqmaq, Sipeknekatik, Acadia, Glooscap) participating in Atlantic ghost gear retrieval.
• R. Anderson and AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWork partner and subcontractor providing professional services to CRS.
• Magellan LawminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal services partner and subcontractor for CRS.
• EngagedHRminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHR services partner providing human resources support.
• Olam FilmsminorOthersSite and media production partner credited for CRS website and media content.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ocean Conservancy: US-based marine conservation NGO that convenes the International Coastal Cleanup and engages on ghost gear policy. CRS partners with Ocean Conservancy, and both organizations operate at the intersection of marine debris advocacy, on-the-ground cleanup, and government partnership.
• The Ocean Cleanup: Non-profit deploying industrial-scale technology and vessels to remove plastic from oceans and rivers globally. Closest large-scale analog to CRS's industrial restoration model, applying technology and operations to marine debris at a much larger absolute scale; comparable mission and capitalization profile as a foundation-funded NGO.
• Resolve Marine Group: Global marine salvage, emergency response, and wreck removal contractor. Comparable to CRS's derelict vessel removal, salvage and recovery, and emergency response capabilities, operating in similar marine environments and serving overlapping government and insurance clients, though structured as a commercial salvage firm.
• T&T Salvage: Marine salvage and emergency response company specializing in vessel refloating, wreck removal, and marine casualty response. Direct functional analog to CRS's Salvage and Recovery and Emergency Towage services, though operating commercially rather than as a non-profit.
• Global Ghost Gear Initiative: International alliance dedicated to solving the problem of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). Direct peer to CRS's Ghost Gear Retrieval program, operating in overlapping geographies and overlapping funder relationships with FAO and major fisheries agencies.
• Ocean Legacy Foundation: Canadian non-profit focused on marine debris cleanup and plastic recycling infrastructure. Highly comparable to CRS in mission, geography (Pacific Canada), and operating model as a non-profit delivering shoreline and ocean cleanup services; CRS's Ocean Legacy Foundation is a partnership that has collaborated on BC flood response and ghost gear work.

Regional players

• Living Oceans Society: Canadian non-profit focused on marine conservation on Canada's Pacific coast. Comparable in scale, geography, and non-profit mandate to CRS, though focused on advocacy, research, and policy rather than industrial-scale field restoration delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Clean Harbors: North American environmental and industrial services leader providing spill response, remediation, and waste management. Adjacent incumbent with overlapping capabilities in shoreline cleanup, hazardous materials handling, and emergency spill response that compete for the same government and industrial clients as CRS.
• Donjon Marine: US-based marine services company offering salvage, dredging, and marine environmental remediation. Comparable to CRS on coastal remediation and debris removal, with overlapping capabilities in heavy marine equipment and emergency response, though operating commercially at larger scale on the US East Coast.
• Smit Salvage (Boskalis): Global leader in marine salvage and wreck removal, owned by Royal Boskalis Westminster. Provides the broad incumbent reference point for CRS's marine salvage and emergency response services, operating at much larger scale across international waters and serving major shipping and insurance clients.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKM6wRNzoqSx3W5QU3Wb9Eg
• Facebookfacebook.com/coastrestore
• Instagraminstagram.com/coastrestore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastrestore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Coastal Restoration Society