Pacific Island Fisheries Group

What Pacific Island Fisheries Group does

Pacific Island Fisheries Group (PIFG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating across the U.S. Pacific Islands, including Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The organization focuses on fisheries conservation, community engagement, and seafood-sector workforce development in the Western Pacific region. Its core programs include the Tag It fish-tagging initiative, which has generated movement data on tens of thousands of tagged fish; Lawai'a Magazine, a community-facing publication; the Pacific Islands Commercial Fishing Vocational Training Program launched in September 2025; and cooperative research (BFISH) conducted in partnership with the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center since 2009.

PIFG's technical and programmatic platform rests on cooperative tagging fieldwork, federally co-managed datasets, and grassroots community outreach rather than proprietary technology products. Foundational data assets stem from the Deep-7 Bottomfish Tagging Project (2008-2015) and ongoing Tag It work, which together feed regional stock-assessment science. The organization also documents cultural heritage through the Hawaii Bottomfish Heritage Project and delivers climate-resilience programming via Pacific Islands Voices, including Inflation Reduction Act-linked community engagement.

PIFG's business model is grant-funded nonprofit operation. Primary revenue comes from federal grants, including NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy awards and cooperative agreements with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Ancillary revenue streams include Tag It kit sales and Lawai'a Magazine subscriptions/donations. End-user segments served include commercial fishers, recreational fishers, emerging fishers entering the vocational program, culinary-arts trainees, and broader Pacific Islander community stakeholders. The organization employs between 11 and 50 staff and operates as a federally-endorsed intermediary between scientific agencies and insular-area fishing communities.

Name

Pacific Island Fisheries Group

Legal name

Pacific Islands Fisheries Group

Website

https://fishtoday.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Island Fisheries Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs fisheries conservation, tagging research, and vocational training programs for commercial and community fishers across Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and CNMI, primarily via federal grants and NOAA partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Fisheries Conservation Services

NAICS

Fishing (1141), Finfish Fishing (114111)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Marine fisheries research
• Fish tagging programs
• Ocean conservation
• Seafood promotion
• Marine vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, PIFG receives funding through federal grants from agencies including the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, NOAA, and the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition. They also accept donations from the public.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sales of Lawai'a Magazine subscriptions and tagging supplies (tags, tagging kits, apparel) through the PIFG Store. Products include magazines at $24/year, tagging kits from $10-$25, and branded merchandise.
3. Training Program Stipends: Provides vocational training to emerging fishers aged 18-40 with all costs covered through federal grants. Participants receive a $750 stipend upon completion, demonstrating the program's fully-funded nature.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PIFG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs community-based marine fisheries programs in Hawaii, including the Tag It fish tagging initiative, vocational training, cooperative research, seafood promotion, nearshore FAD programs, marine education, and coastal cleanup, supported by NOAA, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, and Saltonstall-Kennedy grants along with donations and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Pacific Island Fisheries Group (PIFG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Tag It volunteer fish tagging program (which uses standardized tagging kits and a recapture database), Lawai'a Magazine (a quarterly publication), and the Commercial Fishing Vocational Training program. Supporting initiatives include the PIFG Store (selling tagging supplies and magazine subscriptions), Seafood Promotion Programs, Pro Fishing Tips video series, Keiki Fishing outreach, and Pacific Islands Voices community engagement. The organization also conducts cooperative fisheries research including Deep-7 Bottomfish assessments. These programs work together to perpetuate Pacific Island culture, traditional knowledge, fisheries management, research, and sustainability throughout the Pacific Islands region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tag It: A volunteer-based fish tagging program that streamlines requests for tags and tag kits, data collection, and tag recovery monitoring for nearshore fisheries.
• Lawai'a Magazine

Products and services

• Tag It Fish Tagging Program A community-based fish tagging initiative that engages volunteers to tag and release fish to gather data on fish movements, growth, and population dynamics in Hawaiian waters.
• Lawai'a Magazine A print and digital publication covering fisheries science, ocean conservation, and Hawaiian fishing culture for community members and stakeholders.
• Vocational Training Program A hands-on training program that prepares participants for careers in the maritime and fisheries sectors through practical skill development.
• Cooperative Research Program Collaborative fisheries research conducted in partnership with government agencies, academic institutions, and fishing community stakeholders.
• Seafood Promotion Program A program that promotes locally harvested Hawaiian seafood and raises consumer awareness of sustainable seafood choices.
• Hawaii State Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) Programs A program that deploys and manages nearshore fish aggregation devices to support small-boat fisheries in Hawaii.
• Marine Education Program An educational outreach program that delivers marine ecology and fisheries curricula to schools and community groups.
• International Coastal Cleanup A volunteer-driven coastal cleanup initiative that removes marine debris from Hawaiian shorelines.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1900+ years of fishermen experience documented in Hawaii Bottomfish Heritage Project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIFG coordinates with the Council on community consultation initiatives, climate resilience work, and fishing community engagement across the Pacific Islands Region. PIFG is contracted by the Council under Contract 25-IRA-001 to conduct community meetings and IRA work.
• NOAA HQ Recreational Fishing OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIFG participated and presented at the Rec Fisher Summit Roundtable led by NOAA HQ Recreational Fishing Office and Pacific Islands Regional Office. Two-day summit with recreational fishers to discuss status, issues, and opportunities.
• NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIFG holds contracts with PIFSC for the Cooperative Fisheries Independent Bottomfish Survey (BFISH) in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Since 2009, BFISH survey has generated Deep-7 bottomfish bio-samples for the life history program.
• Touch of HeartminorOthersPIFG redirected surplus BFISH bio-samples to Touch of Heart, a program providing meals to those in need and vocational training. Supports their initiative with sustenance and helps PIFG fulfill community support roles during the pandemic.
• Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIFG's Tag It program was designed to continue the once popular Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources' Ulua Tagging Project, expanding it across commonly targeted species in Hawaii's nearshore hook-and-line fishery.
• Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources staff on the Marianas Exploratory Squid Project. Fishermen turned squid over to further document the life history of species.
• Boy Scouts, Schools, Fishing Clubs, Boys and Girls ClubsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity organizations that PIFG partners with to host kids fishing days at local beaches, reservoirs, and fish ponds to introduce kids to fishing and responsible ocean resource use.
• Fishing Industry PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIFG partnered with the fishing industry for the Pacific Islands Commercial Fishing Vocational Training Program. Experienced commercial fishers provide hands-on training as mentors.
• Wholesale Distributors of Fresh Pelagic FishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with wholesale distributors of fresh pelagic fish for the High School and College Culinary Programs project, sourcing and distributing fresh fish to culinary instructors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations: A nonprofit fishing industry trade association representing commercial fishermen on the U.S. West Coast. Directly comparable as a community-led fisheries nonprofit engaging members in research, advocacy, and cooperative science — analogous to PIFG's role in the Pacific Islands.
• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership: An international nonprofit that works with seafood companies and fishers to improve fishery sustainability. Comparable as a nonprofit intermediary using cooperative research and industry engagement to drive sustainable outcomes, though with a global scope.
• Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance: A community-based fishery organization uniting small-scale fishermen in the Northeast U.S. to improve fisheries sustainability and market access. Comparable as a region-rooted nonprofit that combines cooperative research, community voice, and market development for commercial fishers.
• Alaska Marine Conservation Council: A community-driven nonprofit working on sustainable fisheries in Alaska through research, education, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable mission, regional focus, and nonprofit funding model to PIFG's Pacific Islands work.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Defense Fund (Fisheries Program): A major environmental nonprofit with a long-running fisheries program using cooperative research and market-based tools. Comparable in mission area (sustainable fisheries) but operates at much greater scale and breadth than PIFG.
• Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: One of eight U.S. regional fishery management councils, governing federal fisheries in the Pacific Islands. Comparable as the federal body that contracts and partners with PIFG for community consultation and SAFE-report participation.
• Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR): The state agency managing Hawaii's aquatic resources. PIFG's Tag It program was specifically designed to continue DAR's discontinued Ulua Tagging Project, making them a direct program-line successor.
• NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center: Federal science center conducting fisheries research in the Pacific Islands. Comparable as the institutional partner running BFISH; PIFG conducts cooperative research on the same species and stocks.

Emerging players

• National Fisherman: A trade publication serving the U.S. commercial fishing industry. Comparable as a content platform that reaches the same commercial fisher audience that PIFG engages through Lawai'a Magazine and digital channels.

Others

• Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory: A NOAA research lab focused on ocean and climate observations in the Pacific. Comparable as a Pacific-region ocean research presence that intersects with PIFG's climate-resilience community engagement work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pacificislandfisheriesgrou4991/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/fishtoday
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-island-fisheries-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Pacific Island Fisheries Group