Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1994 that advocates for Cape Cod's small-boat commercial fishermen through policy representation, the nation's first permit bank ($10M enterprise), training programs, and community outreach supporting 100+ captains and crew.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersChatham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance does
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1994 (originally as the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association) and headquartered in Chatham, Massachusetts. The organization represents small-boat commercial fishermen operating across all gear types on Cape Cod — including scallopers, groundfishermen, lobstermen, clam diggers, and shellfish harvesters — providing policy advocacy at local, state, and federal levels, regulatory representation, and community-based programs. Core service offerings include policy advocacy, the Cape Cod Fisheries Trust (the nation's first permit bank, managing $7 million in fishing quota across scallop, groundfish, and ocean quahog species as a $10 million enterprise), a five-course fishermen training curriculum, and community outreach programs including Small Boats Big Taste, Pier Host, and Small Boats Big Science.
The Alliance's technology footprint is limited to operational tools rather than proprietary platforms: environmental sensors mounted on fishing gear for oceanographic data collection, electronic monitoring camera systems on vessels for catch accountability, and a Pier to Plate seafood directory. Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model including individual donations, membership dues, event sponsorships (notably the annual Hookers Ball), quota leasing income from the Permit Bank, multi-year foundation grants (including Pew Charitable Trusts), state grants (such as the $40,000 training grant), and an in-progress $2.5 million endowment capital campaign. Direct economic benefits distributed to the community total approximately $1.5 million annually, supporting more than 20 fishing businesses, over 30 vessels, and roughly 100 captains and crew. The organization is led by CEO John Pappalardo (also a New England Fishery Management Council member) with a lean staff of 11-50 employees and key director-level hires in 2024 including Permit Bank Director Ray Rowell.
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
- Legal name
- Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, Inc.
- Website
- https://capecodfishermen.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1994 that advocates for Cape Cod's small-boat commercial fishermen through policy representation, the nation's first permit bank ($10M enterprise), training programs, and community outreach supporting 100+ captains and crew.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Fishing Industry Advocacy
- NAICS
- Fishing (1141)
- SIC
- Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
Keywords
Where Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chatham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, online store purchases, and general fundraising efforts from supporters of Cape Cod commercial fishing
- Membership Dues: Membership program for fishermen and community supporters
- Endowment Campaign: $2.5 million endowment capital campaign 'Charting Our Course for the Future' to ensure long-term professional representation for fishermen
- Quota Leasing Revenue: Revenue from leasing fishing quota to local fishermen at reduced rates through the Cape Cod Fisheries Trust
- Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from events including Hookers Ball and other community events
- Policy & Advocacy Endowment: Designated endowment fund for ongoing policy and advocacy work
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization that safeguards the ecosystem and future of Cape Cod's commercial fishing businesses. Its core offerings include operating the nation's first permit bank (Cape Cod Fisheries Trust) that leases fishing quota to local fishermen at affordable rates, providing policy and regulatory advocacy at local/state/federal levels, delivering a five-course fishermen training curriculum, and running cooperative research and community outreach programs including Small Boats Big Science and Pier Host.
Product overview
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of advocacy, economic, and educational services rather than a technology product. The core offerings include Policy & Advocacy representing fishermen at government levels, the Cape Cod Fisheries Trust (permit bank) managing $7 million in fishing quota, Fishermen Training programs with certification courses, and community outreach through programs like Small Boats Big Taste, Small Boats Big Science, and Pier Host. Additional services include the monthly eMagazine publication, events (Meet the Fleet, Hookers Ball), the Pier to Plate seafood directory, and membership programs. The organization also operates a Permit Bank enterprise managing fishing quota access for the community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cape Cod Fisheries Trust: The permit bank program that owns and manages fishing quota (scallop, groundfish, ocean quahog) for the benefit of Cape Cod fishermen, leasing access at reduced rates.
- Small Boats, Big Taste
- Hookers Ball
- Meet the Fleet
Products and services
- Cape Cod Fisheries Trust (Permit Bank) The nation's first permit bank, owning $7 million in scallop, groundfish, and ocean quahog fishing rights and leasing quota to local Cape Cod fishermen at reduced rates to retain local access to fishing resources. Operates as a $10 million enterprise supporting over 20 fishing businesses and 100+ captains and crew annually.
- Policy & Advocacy Advocacy services representing Cape Cod commercial fishermen at local, state, and federal levels on fishing regulations, quota management, and environmental policy. Includes active campaigns on floating offshore wind, positions and letters on regulatory issues, and tracking of achievements.
- Fishermen Training Program Five-course curriculum covering boating safety, first aid, CPR, survival training, commercial fishing fundamentals, and hands-on fish handling and deck safety for new crew members entering the commercial fishing industry. Funded by a $40,000 state grant.
- Small Boats Big Science Collaborative research initiative where fishermen collect environmental data using sensors mounted on their fishing gear to contribute to scientific understanding of ocean conditions including low oxygen areas in Cape Cod Bay. Part of the Future Fisheries Alliance with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- Pier to Plate Local Seafood Directory Directory of local seafood sources from Cape Cod fishermen connecting consumers with locally caught seafood vendors.
Quantifiable outcome
- $1.5 million in direct economic benefits annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, minor and national.
- Catch TogethercoreNational organization founded by former Fishermen's Alliance Executive Director Paul Parker. Invests capital to support fishermen, fishing communities and ocean conservation. Helps establish more permit banks tailored to community needs worldwide. Parker traveled to London and British Columbia to help set up permit banks based on the Cape Cod model.
- Martha's Vineyard Preservation TrustregionalAssisted by Catch Together to purchase sea scallop quota, helping preserve the last remaining sea scallop fisherman on Martha's Vineyard and provide incentive for more fishermen to enter the fishery.
- Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Quota Bank / Gulf of Mexico Shareholder's AllianceregionalCatch Together helped establish this quota bank which reduces discards, keeps fishermen on the water, and builds another generation of leaders. The only program of its kind from Texas to Florida, in operation for over six years.
- Community Development PartnershipregionalWorks with Fishermen's Alliance on economic development initiatives, including helping scallopers lease quota at affordable rates and working on programs to support local fishing businesses.
- Whole Foods MarketminorPartnered with Captain Eric Hesse to bring fresh local fish into Whole Foods supermarkets and introduce consumers to the fishermen who caught it.
- Blue Economy FoundationregionalFishermen's Alliance is a founding member of the Cape's Blue Economy Foundation. Co-organizes the annual Big Blue conference with Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and Cape Cod Climate Collaborative.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)regionalCollaborative research partnership as part of the Future Fisheries Alliance, leveraging latest technologies, real-time data, and climate models to help fishermen adapt to changing ecosystems.
- Woods Hole Sea GrantregionalPartnership for fishermen training and educational programs, including introducing eMOLT curriculum into classrooms.
- Seafood Harvesters of AmericanationalNational organization representing U.S. commercial seafood industry. Fishermen's Alliance Policy Director serves as nominee for New England Fishery Management Council and participated in national policy forum.
- Fishing Communities CoalitionnationalCoalition of fishing organizations that met with newly created Office of Seafood under the Trump administration to discuss how USDA could support fishermen.
- Net Your ProblemregionalGear recycling company that started in Alaska and expanded to Massachusetts through Caitlin Townsend's efforts. Recycles end-of-life fishing gear into plastic pellets for products like sunglasses and board shorts. Has recycled over two million pounds of gear.
- ARC (Shellfish Hatchery in Dennis)regionalShellfish hatchery that treats clean water, applied science, food production, and local economic life as part of one system. Cited as example of holistic approach to coastal management.
- New England Fishery Management CouncilregionalCEO John Pappalardo serves as member of the Council, which recommends policy to NOAA Fisheries. Organization actively participates in Council meetings and policy discussions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance social profiles
Digital presenceCape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
What does Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance do?
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization that safeguards the ecosystem and future of Cape Cod's commercial fishing businesses. Its core offerings include operating the nation's first permit bank (Cape Cod Fisheries Trust) that leases fishing quota to local fishermen at affordable rates, providing policy and regulatory advocacy at local/state/federal levels, delivering a five-course fishermen training curriculum, and running cooperative research and community outreach programs including Small Boats Big Science and Pier Host.
Is Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance a public or private company?
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance founded?
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance based?
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance is headquartered in Chatham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are membership Dues, endowment Campaign, quota Leasing Revenue, event Sponsorships and policy & Advocacy Endowment.
Does Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance.
What industry is Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance in?
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance's product category is Commercial Fishing Industry Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation. Its NAICS code is 1141 and its SIC code is 900.