Coastal Conservation Association

What Coastal Conservation Association does

Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused on the conservation of marine resources in the United States. Its primary stakeholders are saltwater anglers and recreational fishing communities, served through 125,000+ members organized across 125+ state chapters. Core programmatic activities include habitat restoration (executed through the Building Conservation Trust subsidiary), the STAR Tournament angling competition, science-based fisheries policy advocacy, and member education through TIDE Magazine (101,000+ circulation) and the Science of Conservation content series.

The organization operates multiple programs and sub-brands to extend its mission: ReleaSense targets recruitment of younger and more diverse saltwater anglers, Rising TIDE supports member engagement, and partnerships with tackle, boat, and outdoor brands (AFTCO, YETI, Yamaha) extend reach and co-branded revenue. Corporate partnerships with energy sector sponsors (Shell, Chevron, Cheniere Energy) fund major habitat restoration work, illustrating how CCA monetizes its regulatory and scientific credibility with industrial stakeholders that have coastal environmental interests.

CCA's revenue model is a nonprofit mix of membership dues across tiers ($10 youth to $1,000 lifetime), conservation donations, merchandise sales, and STAR tournament registration and sponsorship fees. The 59-employee Houston headquarters operates with a modest overhead relative to its nationwide grassroots footprint, and the chapter-based structure provides distributed labor for habitat projects, member recruitment, and political advocacy at the state level.

Name

Coastal Conservation Association

Legal name

Coastal Conservation Association

Website

https://joincca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Coastal Conservation Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that serves 125,000+ saltwater anglers across 125+ U.S. state chapters through membership, habitat restoration, fisheries advocacy, and the STAR tournament program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues ranging from $10 (youth) to $1,000 (lifetime), with multi-year discounts available. Payment options include single payments and installment plans (e.g., Life Membership at $250 quarterly x4). Includes subscription to TIDE Magazine for most tiers.
2. Merchandise Sales: CCA Gear sold through AFTCO partnership with $5 donations per item supporting conservation efforts. Higher-tier memberships (Stewardship, Sponsor, Patron) include branded merchandise incentives (hats, backpacks, overnight bags).
3. Conservation Donations: Tax-deductible donations through PayPal supporting Building Conservation Trust habitat projects. Chairman's Club donations at $1,000 include Limited Edition AFTCO Boat Bag.
4. STAR Tournament Registrations: Tournament registration fees for STAR (Saltwater Anglers Recognition) tournaments across multiple states, offering over $1,000,000 in prizes and scholarships across all tournaments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coastal Conservation Association is a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recruits and mobilizes recreational anglers (125,000+ members) to advocate for marine conservation policy, fund and conduct coastal habitat restoration, and deliver fisheries science through research programs. Its sellable offerings are tiered memberships ($25 youth through $5,000 lifetime), tournament entry in the STAR series, the quarterly TIDE magazine, CCA gear, donations to the Building Conservation Trust, and enrollment in scholarship/education programs such as the Science of Conservation Scholarship and Rising TIDE.

Product overview

Coastal Conservation Association operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of conservation-focused programs and member benefits. The core offerings include TIDE Magazine (quarterly publication), Rising TIDE (youth publication), STAR Tournament (annual fishing competition with $1M+ in prizes), Building Conservation Trust (habitat restoration), ReleaSense (catch and release education), Science of Conservation Scholarships, and CCA Gear merchandise. These products are tied together through membership tiers ranging from $10-$1,000, with the organization serving over 125,000 recreational anglers across state chapters nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Building Conservation Trust (BCT): The national habitat program of CCA focused on grassroots-driven habitat conservation and restoration projects including artificial reefing, marsh restoration, and educational outreach programs
• TIDE Magazine
• STAR Tournament
• ReleaSense
• Rising TIDE
• Science of Conservation

Products and services

• Standard Membership Annual individual membership at $125/year for recreational anglers and conservation supporters; provides a baseline member benefits package.
• Associate Membership Annual individual membership tier above standard, offering enhanced member benefits for recreational anglers.
• Youth Membership Annual membership priced at $25/year targeting youth and student recreational anglers to build early engagement with CCA and recreational fishing stewardship.
• Conservation Membership Annual membership at $250/year for members seeking a higher engagement level with CCA's conservation programs.
• Stewardship Membership Annual membership priced at $500/year for higher-engagement members with deeper involvement in CCA's stewardship work.
• Sponsor Membership Annual membership at $750/year for sponsor-level supporters of CCA's advocacy and habitat programs.
• Patron Membership Annual membership priced at $1,000/year for patron-level supporters of CCA's marine conservation work.
• Life Membership One-time lifetime membership priced at $5,000, giving the member permanent CCA status and benefits in lieu of recurring annual dues.
• TIDE Magazine CCA's quarterly member magazine that delivers conservation news, fisheries policy coverage, and recreational fishing content to CCA members and subscribers.
• STAR Tournament Recreational saltwater fishing tournament series run by CCA through its state chapters, with entry fees generating program revenue and engaging members in competitive angling.
• Building Conservation Trust Foundation entity within CCA that accepts restricted donations and executes coastal habitat restoration projects such as oyster reef and marsh restoration; donors receive acknowledgment of their restricted contributions.
• ReleaSense Initiative CCA-branded fisheries science and conservation research initiative that funds and disseminates data on recreational saltwater fish populations to inform management.
• Science of Conservation Scholarship Program Scholarship program for students studying marine conservation and related fisheries science disciplines, funded through CCA member and donor contributions.
• Rising TIDE CCA youth engagement initiative that introduces students and young anglers to the organization's conservation mission, networking, and recreational fishing activities.
• CCA Gear / Branded Merchandise Branded apparel, hats, and accessories sold through CCA's online store, generating incremental revenue and reinforcing member identity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 53 artificial reefs built by CCA Louisiana's R.E.E.F. program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 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

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

• Shell Oil CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner for Building Conservation Trust habitat projects including Big Man's and Kate's Reef off Galveston, Texas. Shell has contributed critical funds to reefing efforts along with CCA Texas and BCT.
• ChevroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CCA Louisiana's R.E.E.F. Louisiana Program on South Timbalier Block 63 Reef project. Funded 'Super Reef' construction with 36 pyramid-shaped structures made of concrete, steel rebar, and limestone rocks.
• Ducks UnlimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CCA Texas and BCT on Dagger Island Restoration Project to restore coastal wetlands and protect seagrass beds in Redfish Bay State Scientific Area.
• AFTCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive licensee for CCA Gear merchandise. Sells officially licensed CCA performance fishing shirts and hats with $5 donations per item funding conservation efforts. Handles distribution of membership incentive items (hats, backpacks, overnight bags) for higher-tier memberships.
• YETImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting BCT habitat projects. Logo displayed on BCT website as partner. Also supplies prizes and products for CCA events and tournaments.
• YamahamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner with BCT. Also partnered on South Atlantic Red Snapper management through Yamaha Marine app development for angler catch reporting in GA, SC, and NC.
• ShimanominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting BCT habitat restoration initiatives. Logo displayed on BCT partners page.
• BPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BCT conservation efforts, contributing to habitat restoration projects along the Gulf Coast.
• ChenieremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed to Sabine Reef Initiative along with Port Arthur LNG, Golden Pass LNG, Phillips 66, Motiva, and Valero. 8,000 tons of rip rap donated for reef deployment.
• No Shoes ReefsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Georgia Inshore Reef Project deploying oyster reef balls along Georgia's coast in the Ogeechee River Inshore Artificial Reef site.
• Reefmaker-Walter MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with CCA Louisiana on South Timbalier Block 63 Reef project. Designed the 36 'Super Reef' pyramid structures for the artificial reef.
• Duke Energy FloridamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CCA Florida, Tampa Electric, and county conservation divisions to plant nearly 700 red and black mangroves at two Florida locations. Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center grows and donates mangroves.
• MossyOak FishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting BCT habitat projects. Logo displayed on BCT partners page.
• Friends of Sabine ReefscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for Sabine Reef Initiative with $710,000 in local industry contributions secured. Partnered with TPWD, CCA Texas, and BCT for reef deployment.
• American Sportfishing Association (ASA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner on South Atlantic Red Snapper advocacy, Exempted Fishing Permits, and recreational fishing rights. Joint press releases, DC fly-ins, and policy advocacy.
• Center for Sportfishing PolicycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner leading sportfishing policy advocacy. Works with CCA on federal fisheries management, state-led EFPs, and NOAA reform efforts.
• National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner representing recreational boating industry. Co-signs letters on vessel speed regulations, EFPs, and fisheries management. NMMA represents 810,000+ jobs and $230 billion economic impact.
• Congressional Sportsmen's FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner on fisheries policy advocacy. Supports state-led management approaches and improved recreational data collection.
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on R.E.E.F. Louisiana artificial reef program. Provides matching funds through Artificial Reef Trust Fund for reef projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trout Unlimited: Direct peer — large recreational-fishing-focused conservation nonprofit with a similar grassroots chapter model, habitat restoration mission, and angler membership base.
• The Billfish Foundation: Direct peer — saltwater recreational fishing conservation nonprofit with comparable advocacy, science-based policy, and membership funding model.
• Ducks Unlimited: Direct peer — large habitat-focused conservation nonprofit that co-partners with CCA on the Dagger Island restoration project, with a similar chapter and donor-based operating model.
• Izaak Walton League of America: Direct peer — long-standing conservation nonprofit with chapter-based structure and outdoor recreation/angling orientation, comparable member-driven operating model.
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: Direct peer — coalition-based conservation nonprofit working on hunting, fishing, and habitat policy, frequently co-signing letters with CCA on federal fisheries management.
• Recreational Fishing Alliance: Direct peer — recreational fishing advocacy group operating in overlapping policy arenas (federal fisheries management, angler rights), often aligned in coalition work with CCA.
• Center for Sportfishing Policy: Direct peer — policy-focused sportfishing advocacy organization that leads federal fisheries reform efforts alongside CCA on EFPs and NOAA reform.
• Bonefish & Tarpon Trust: Direct peer — nonprofit marine conservation organization focused on recreational fisheries habitat and policy advocacy, with similar membership model and habitat restoration programs.
• American Sportfishing Association (ASA): Direct peer — sportfishing industry trade association that jointly advocates with CCA on South Atlantic Red Snapper management, EFPs, and NOAA reform.

Broad incumbents

• National Wildlife Federation: Broad incumbent — much larger, generalist conservation nonprofit with overlapping marine/coastal advocacy priorities but a much broader species and habitat remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CCANational
• Facebookfacebook.com/CCANational
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccanational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-conservation-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Coastal Conservation Association