Hawaii Seafood Council

What Hawaii Seafood Council does

The Hawaii Seafood Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered at 1131 N Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii, that promotes sustainable seafood and fisheries through consumer education, outreach, and research. Its primary operational asset is the hawaii-seafood.org educational website, which catalogs wild Hawaii fish species (tunas, billfish, mahimahi, opah, bottomfish), fishing methods (longline, pole-and-line, trolling, handline, bottomfish), seafood safety, and health benefits. The Council runs the public Honolulu Fish Auction tour program on Saturday mornings ($35 adult / $25 child, reservation only) and hosts the annual Hawaii Seafood Symposium bringing together NOAA, university, and international stakeholders.

The organization's technical foundation rests on three pillars: HACCP-based seafood safety systems to prevent seafood-borne illness; FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries assessment methodology (93–94% compliance scores for Hawaii longline fisheries in 2006 and 2008, 92.6% for American Samoa in 2009); and Marine Stewardship Council pre-assessments covering 31 performance indicators (achieved 80+ scores across all indicators by 2014). The Council hosts the Hawaii Tuna and Large Pelagics Fishery Improvement Project, which documents sustainability for US retailers including Sam's Club, and partners with NOAA (Awards NA06NMF4520222, NA05NMF4521112), WPRFMC, the Hawaii Longline Association, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, Sustainability Incubator, and the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions.

The business model is grant- and program-funded rather than commercial. Revenue is derived from NOAA technical assistance funding and modest tour ticket fees; the Council does not sell seafood, license technology, or collect membership dues at scale. It serves three primary constituencies: general public consumers (education and tours), US seafood retailers requiring sustainability verification, and the Hawaii fishing industry needing market access backed by credible third-party assessments. Notable operational footprint includes management of 50+ fish species across more than 1.5 million square nautical miles of US EEZ in the Western Pacific, anchored by a 164-permit cap in the Hawaii longline fishery.

Name

Hawaii Seafood Council

Legal name

Hawaii Seafood Council

Website

https://hawaii-seafood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Hawaii Seafood Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit headquartered in Honolulu that promotes sustainable Hawaii seafood through consumer education, public tours of the Honolulu Fish Auction, and Fishery Improvement Project assessments against FAO and MSC standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seafood Sustainability Education and Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seafood & Aquaculture Certification Services (MSC/ASC/BAP) (AFALAMAL), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable seafood education
• Fishery improvement project
• Seafood sustainability certification
• Wild-caught fish species
• Fishery regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. NOAA Funding: The Hawaii Seafood Council receives technical assistance funding from NOAA for content preparation and website maintenance as part of NOAA Award No. NA06NMF4520222 and NA05NMF4521112.
2. Fish Auction Tours: Revenue from guided tours of the Honolulu Fish Auction, priced at $35 for adults and $25 for children aged 8-12 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Hawaii Seafood Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that educates consumers, retailers, and the public about the quality, safety, and sustainability of wild-caught Hawaii seafood. It runs the educational hawaii-seafood.org website, operates the Honolulu Fish Auction public tours, sells species identification posters and pamphlets, and hosts the Hawaii Tuna and Large Pelagics Fishery Improvement Project documenting sustainability against FAO and MSC standards.

Product overview

The Hawaii Seafood Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates Hawaii-Seafood.org as an educational website focused on informing the public about the quality, safety, and sustainability of Hawaii seafood. The primary offerings include: the Wild Hawaii Fish informational resource describing various wild-caught fish species (tunas, billfish, bottomfish, and other pelagic species); the Honolulu Fish Auction Tours providing guided tours of the commercial fish auction facility in Honolulu; the Hawaii Tuna and Large Pelagics Fishery Improvement Project documenting sustainability practices; and educational resources on seafood safety, HACCP systems, and independent fishery assessments against international standards. The organization does not offer a commercial software product but rather serves as an educational and industry advocacy platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honolulu Fish Auction Tours
• Hawaii Tuna and Large Pelagics Fishery Improvement Project
• Wild Hawaii Fish Species Information Resource Educational resource and informational guide about wild-caught Hawaii fish species including tunas (Bigeye, Yellowfin, Albacore, Skipjack), billfish (Blue Marlin, Striped Marlin, Shortbill Spearfish, Swordfish), and other species (Mahimahi, Wahoo, Moonfish, Sickle Pomfret, various snappers).
• Hawaii Seafood Poster Educational poster featuring Hawaii seafood species for identification and consumer education, sold through the Hawaii Seafood Council website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% compliance with FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in 2006, improving to 94% in 2008
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOAA provides funding and technical assistance to the Hawaii Seafood Council through awards including NA06NMF4520222 and NA05NMF4521112. NOAA PIRO manages federal fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region while NSIL provides food safety risk analysis expertise supporting the organization's educational mission.
• Hawaii Longline AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary industry partner representing Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishermen. The association initiated the MSC pre-assessment evaluation in 2009 to demonstrate fishery sustainability to US retailers and stakeholders.
• Sustainable Fisheries PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFP partnered with the Hawaii Longline Association to conduct the 2009 MSC pre-assessment and provided guidance for the Fishery Improvement Project. SFP offers feedback and guidance to support fishery sustainability improvements.
• Sustainability IncubatormajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSustainability Incubator assisted in launching the Fishery Improvement Project and conducted the 2013 and 2014 MSC pre-assessments for the Hawaii Seafood Council, evaluating the fishery against 31 MSC performance indicators.
• Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWPRFMC develops and amends the Fishery Ecosystem Plan under which Hawaii pelagic fisheries are managed. The Council provides the regulatory framework, public process, and stakeholder input that enables fishery sustainability claims.
• Conservation Alliance for Seafood SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FIP is guided by the credibility criteria established by the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions, ensuring the fishery improvement project meets industry standards for transparency and stakeholder engagement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Oceana: A large international ocean conservation organization. Comparable as a marine-focused nonprofit engaged in fisheries policy advocacy, though operating at much greater scale and with a broader advocacy mandate.
• Norwegian Seafood Council: A government-backed organization that markets Norwegian seafood globally and educates consumers about seafood quality and sustainability. A larger, more established analog to the Hawaii Seafood Council's promotional and educational mandate.
• NOAA Fisheries: The US federal agency responsible for managing federal fisheries. Directly comparable as the primary funder and partner of the Hawaii Seafood Council, and the body that manages the underlying fishery data and regulatory infrastructure.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch: A widely recognized consumer education program that rates seafood sustainability. Comparable in its consumer-facing educational mission and its influence on retailer and consumer seafood purchasing decisions.
• Marine Stewardship Council: The leading international organization for sustainable seafood certification. Closely linked to the Council's MSC pre-assessment work and the FIP it hosts; serves as the global standard-setter for fishery sustainability claims.

Emerging players

• FishWise: A sustainability-focused NGO that partners with seafood companies to improve sourcing practices. Comparable in its nonprofit sustainability advocacy role and its work bridging fisheries, retailers, and consumers.

Direct peers

• Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute: A state-level seafood promotion organization that markets and educates consumers about Alaska seafood. Directly comparable to Hawaii Seafood Council as both are publicly-supported entities promoting regional seafood through education, sustainability messaging, and consumer awareness.
• Seafood New Zealand: A national industry organization that promotes and educates consumers about New Zealand seafood. Comparable in function to the Hawaii Seafood Council as both serve as industry-funded bodies advancing seafood consumption and sustainability awareness.
• Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: The federal regional fishery management body that develops fishery management plans for Hawaii and US Pacific Islands waters. A core partner of the Hawaii Seafood Council, managing the same regulatory framework that underpins the Council's sustainability claims.
• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership: An NGO that works with seafood companies and fisheries to improve sustainability, including through FIPs. Directly comparable as both organizations guide Fishery Improvement Projects and provide sustainability assessment services for commercial fisheries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Seafood Council