CDFW

What CDFW does

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is a California state government agency operating under the California Natural Resources Agency and led by Director Meghan Hertel. The agency traces its origins to the Fish Commission of California (1850), was reorganized as the California Department of Fish and Game in the 1950s, and was renamed CDFW in 2012 to reflect an expanded mission covering plants and broader conservation. Headquartered at 715 P Street, Sacramento, CDFW manages California's fish, wildlife, and plant resources and the habitats on which they depend, employing 1,001-5,000 staff across regional offices, OSPR field offices, the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center (Santa Cruz), Petroleum Chemistry Lab (Rancho Cordova), and Water Pollution Control Lab (Sacramento).

CDFW's core technology stack centers on two proprietary information systems: the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), which tracks element occurrences for the state's most imperiled plants, animals, and natural communities, and the BIOS (Biogeographic Information and Observation System), which integrates GIS, relational database management, and ESRI ArcGIS Server technology for statewide biogeographic data management. A Spotted Owl Observations Database supports species-specific management, while digital citizen-facing tools include the SWAP Hub data platform (launched July 2026), the Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools (launched May 2026), the License App, the Online License Sales/Services portal at licenses.wildlife.ca.gov, the Wildlife Incident Reporting System (WIR), the Golden Mussel Survey Reporting System, the Cal Spill Watch platform, and RareFind for CNDDB text querying. The agency also publishes the peer-reviewed California Fish and Wildlife Scientific Journal and runs the VegCAMP vegetation classification and mapping program alongside Project WILD, Fishing in the City, CAEP, CALNASP, and the Duck Stamp Art Contest education programs.

As a state agency rather than a commercial enterprise, CDFW does not report revenue in the traditional sense and is funded through state appropriations, federal grants, license and permit fees, and special funds (e.g., mussel fee stickers administered by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways). Service distribution runs through direct digital channels (CDFW online portal and mobile app), regional offices statewide, licensed retail outlets, DMV offices (for mussel stickers), AAA offices (for members), and inter-agency partnerships. Customer segments span California residents and visitors engaged in hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation; commercial fishermen and aquaculturists; boaters; government agencies (Fish and Game Commission, USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, State and Regional Water Boards, USDA Forest Service, NPS); county prosecutors; and researchers and conservation organizations accessing CNDDB, BIOS, and rare-plant datasets.

Name

CDFW

Legal name

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Website

https://wildlife.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1850

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is a California state government agency that manages the state's fish, wildlife, plant, and habitat resources through regulation, scientific data systems (CNDDB, BIOS), licensing, oil spill response (OSPR), and public education programs serving residents, visitors, researchers, and partner agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Natural Resource Management

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (114)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL), Wildlife Health & Conservation Disease Management (HLAMAJAM)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Fish and wildlife management
• Biodiversity data systems
• Hunting and fishing licensing
• Environmental regulatory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is California's state government agency responsible for managing fish, wildlife, and native plant resources and the habitats upon which they depend. It administers hunting and fishing licenses and regulations, operates fish hatcheries, enforces wildlife protection laws, delivers conservation and environmental review programs (including CESA permitting, CEQA review, and the Lake and Streambed Alteration Program), runs the Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) for inland and marine oil spill response, and maintains statewide biodiversity data systems (CNDDB, BIOS, RareFind) for imperiled species and habitat tracking.

Product overview

CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) is a state government agency managing California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources. The agency's offerings include digital platforms such as the BIOS (Biogeographic Information and Observation System) for biogeographic data management and CNDDB (California Natural Diversity Database) for tracking imperiled species, complemented by consumer-facing services including the License App and Online License Sales system. CDFW also operates educational programs like Project WILD, Fishing in the City, and the Classroom Aquarium Education Project, alongside scientific publication through the California Fish and Wildlife Scientific Journal. Recent digital product launches include the SWAP Hub platform (July 2026) and Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools (May 2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR): The state's lead for response to oil spills in California's inland and marine waters
• California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB)
• Project WILD
• Fishing in the City
• Office of Communications, Education and Outreach (OCEO)

Products and services

• BIOS (Biogeographic Information and Observation System) Comprehensive system for managing, visualizing, and analyzing biogeographic data collected by CDFW and partner organizations. Integrates GIS, relational database management, and ESRI ArcGIS Server technology. Target users: researchers, conservation organizations, and CDFW staff.
• California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Database recording information about California's most imperiled plants, animals, and natural communities, with data accessible via RareFind and BIOS viewers. Target users: scientists, conservation planners, and environmental reviewers.
• RareFind Web application that allows users to query and run reports on text information in the CNDDB, connected to BIOS for spatial data viewing. Target users: researchers, conservation planners, and environmental reviewers.
• CDFW License App Mobile application for purchasing and managing fishing and hunting licenses, report cards, and related permits. Target users: California individual license buyers, hunters, and anglers.
• Online License Sales/Services Web-based platform for purchasing fishing and hunting licenses, permits, and report cards online at licenses.wildlife.ca.gov. Target users: California individuals needing licenses and permits.
• SWAP Hub Digital platform for California's State Wildlife Action Plan providing interactive tools including the SWAP Data Explorer and SWAP Conservation Success Stories StoryMap. Target users: CDFW staff and tribal and conservation partners.
• Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools Digital tools for tracking recreational and commercial in-season harvests of ocean salmon. Target users: recreational ocean salmon fishers and commercial salmon fishermen in California.
• Wildlife Incident Reporting System (WIR) Online system for reporting sick or dead fish/wildlife, species of concern, invasive species, oil/toxic spills, and abandoned fishing gear. Target users: California residents, visitors, and field observers.
• Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) CDFW's office responsible for oil spill response in California's inland and marine waters, aiming for best achievable protection of natural resources. Includes field offices across California and the Cal Spill Watch public platform.
• Cal Spill Watch Public information platform for current and past oil spill incidents in California, integrated with OSPR reporting and social media channels.
• Spotted Owl Observations Database Database tracking both subspecies of Spotted Owl occurring in California (Northern and California Spotted Owl), including activity centers, all observations (positive and negative), and spider diagrams depicting relationships.
• Golden Mussel Survey Reporting System Online system for reporting suspected golden mussel organisms with location and photographic documentation capabilities. Target users: California residents, boaters, and field staff.
• VegCAMP (Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program) Program developing and maintaining California's expression of the National Vegetation Classification System through assessment, mapping projects, and training programs. Target users: vegetation ecologists, conservation planners, and partner agencies.
• Instream Flow Program Program developing instream flows required to maintain healthy conditions for aquatic and riparian species throughout California. Target users: water managers, regulatory agencies, and conservation practitioners.
• Habitat Conservation Planning Branch (HCPB) Branch providing for conservation, protection, restoration, and management of fish, wildlife, and native plants through CESA permitting, CEQA review, and other programs. Target users: project applicants, agencies, and conservation partners.
• Project WILD Wildlife-based conservation and environmental education program providing curriculum and professional development training for educators of kindergarten through high school youth. Target users: K-12 educators and students.
• Fishing in the City Program providing close-to-home, warmwater fishing opportunities, including Learn-to-Fish events and stocking programs in urban areas. Target users: urban residents in California.
• Classroom Aquarium Education Project (CAEP) Educational program bringing aquarium education into classrooms. Target users: K-12 classrooms.
• National Archery in the Schools Program (CALNASP) Program bringing archery education into California schools. Target users: K-12 schools.
• Duck Stamp Art Contest Annual art contest for California's Duck Stamp program.
• Fishing Passport Program challenging anglers to catch and document 150 species listed in the Passport, with stamps available for each species caught.
• California Fish and Wildlife Scientific Journal Peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research on California's fish, wildlife, and plant resources. Target users: scientists, researchers, and conservation practitioners.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Fish and Game CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commission is CDFW's primary partner agency, with the authority to designate species as threatened or endangered under CESA and adopt fishing and hunting regulations.
• Wildlife Conservation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated state agency working on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration projects.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for water branch coordination, instream flow studies, and species protection programs.
• NOAA's National Marine Fisheries ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for marine species management and ocean resource coordination.
• State Water Resources Control BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on water allocation, water quality, and instream flow recommendations.
• Department of Water ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency for water resources management and Delta conservation.
• California Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency coordinating on domoic acid testing and seafood safety advisories.
• Delta Stewardship CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency coordinating Delta conservation and management efforts.
• Delta ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal agency for Delta environmental improvement projects.
• U.S. Coast Guard - National Pollution Funds CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for oil spill response and pollution funding.
• NOAA - Office of Response & RestorationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for oil spill science and natural resource damage assessment.
• Oiled Wildlife Care Network (UC Davis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork providing care for oiled wildlife during spill events, staffed through UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
• USDA Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal land management agency for wildlife habitat on national forests.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for mountain lion monitoring and wildlife conservation in National Parks.
• Los Angeles ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for orphaned mountain lion kitten intervention and rehabilitation.
• California State Parks Division of Boating and WaterwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers mussel fee sticker revenue and grants for invasive species prevention.
• Yolo Basin FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner hosting Bat Talk and Tours at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.
• Santa Ana ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Project WILD educator training programs in Southern California.
• County District AttorneyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with county DAs for wildlife prosecution including San Diego County DA Michael McCann and San Luis Obispo County DA Ken Jorgensen.
• Regional Water Quality Control BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on water quality protection and instream flow criteria.
• California Native Plant SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative relationship for rare plant status review and conservation through VegCAMP program.
• Wildlife Conservation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support for vegetation mapping projects including Southern Sierra Nevada Foothills.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Major state fish and wildlife agency with substantial fisheries management authority and a comparable mix of licensing revenue, species protection, and habitat programs across a large geographic jurisdiction.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Commission-governed state agency with comparable authority over hunting/fishing licensing, imperiled species protection, and habitat management, operating across a similarly biologically rich jurisdiction.
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Neighboring Pacific state fish and wildlife agency with overlapping mandates on salmon, marine resources, and endangered species, and similar licensing-plus-conservation funding structure.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: State environmental agency combining fish/wildlife management with broader environmental regulatory functions, comparable in scale and the breadth of regulatory authority CDFW exercises through CESA, CEQA, and the Lake and Streambed Alteration Program.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: The largest state fish and wildlife agency in the contiguous United States, with parallel responsibilities for hunting/fishing licensing, species conservation, habitat management, and public education across a comparably large and ecologically diverse state.
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: West Coast state wildlife agency with overlapping jurisdiction over Pacific salmon, orcas, and shared transboundary species, operating a similar mix of licensing, species protection, and habitat programs as CDFW.

Broad incumbents

• NOAA Fisheries: Federal agency responsible for marine fisheries management and protected marine species. CDFW partners with NOAA on salmon, sardine/anchovy, and marine mammal issues, making NOAA a natural federal-level counterpart for CDFW's marine and anadromous programs.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal counterpart operating Endangered Species Act enforcement and National Wildlife Refuge management nationwide. Overlaps with CDFW on CESA-listed species, federal grant funding flows, and joint conservation planning — but at broader national scale.

Others

• Ducks Unlimited: Major wetland and waterfowl conservation NGO with deep overlap in habitat protection priorities. An adjacent ecosystem partner that complements CDFW's wetland and migratory game bird management rather than competing with it.
• Wildlife Conservation Board: California state entity that funds and approves habitat conservation and restoration projects. It is a strategic partner of CDFW rather than a competitor, providing capital that supports CDFW-led vegetation mapping and species programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CaliforniaDFW
• YouTubeyoutube.com/CaliforniaDFG
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaDFW
• Instagraminstagram.com/californiadfw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CDFW