Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance

What Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance does

The Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit fishermen's organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Galveston, Texas. It self-describes as the largest organization of commercial grouper, snapper, and reef fish fishermen in the Gulf of America, serving SMB commercial fishermen who hold Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) shares across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The organization is run by fishermen for fishermen and centers its mission on accountable and sustainable fisheries, public access to American seafood, profitable fishing businesses, and a durable IFQ system.

Its core offerings include the Gulf Reef Fish Quota Bank (the first Quota Bank in the Gulf, launched in 2015, leasing red snapper allocation to eligible grouper and next-generation fishermen), Gulf Wild™ (a registered boat-to-plate seafood traceability brand), the Gulf Commercial Fisherman Program (GCFP, a deckhand training program launched in 2024 with Texas and Florida Sea Grant), the Wayne Werner Memorial Scholarship (up to $5,000 for marine science students), Electronic Monitoring services in partnership with CFEMM at Mote, and a Disaster Relief resource program. The organization also conducts policy advocacy and litigation, notably co-litigating the Amendment 53 red grouper reallocation case where a federal appeals court ruled in its favor in March 2024.

Revenue is generated through membership dues starting at $25 per member, donations (including PayPal-supported giving), and Quota Bank lease fees. The organization operates with approximately 6 employees and represents a distributed, member-based constituency of Gulf commercial fishermen rather than serving a small set of enterprise customers.

Name

Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance

Legal name

Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance

Website

https://shareholdersalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit, founded in 2015 and based in Galveston, Texas, serving commercial grouper, snapper, and reef fish fishermen across the Gulf of America through quota allocation, policy advocacy, traceability (Gulf Wild), workforce training, and disaster relief programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Fisheries Association Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAE

Marine & Freshwater Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPADALAI

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYEDAOAOAK

Aquaculture & Fisheries Operations

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Agriculture, Horticulture & Skilled Trades

Keywords

• Commercial fisheries advocacy
• Fishery regulatory representation
• Individual fishing quota leasing
• Seafood traceability services
• Commercial fishing training

Headquarters

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization collects membership dues starting at $25 per member. Members receive newsletters, policy updates, and exclusive benefits.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and supporters to fund its advocacy work, scholarship programs, and disaster relief efforts.
3. Quota Bank Lease Fees: The Quota Bank program leases red snapper allocation to eligible fishermen in exchange for participation in program requirements including electronic reporting and Best Business Practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The organization is a membership-based fishermen's association that represents Gulf commercial reef-fish operators through policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, and member communications. It operates a Quota Bank that leases red snapper allocation and supports Gulf Wild, a boat-to-plate seafood traceability program.

Product overview

The Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance is a fishermen's organization run by fishermen for fishermen. The organization offers multiple programs: the Gulf Reef Fish Quota Bank (launched 2015) which leases red snapper allocation to support fishermen; Gulf Wild™ traceability program for seafood sourcing verification; the Wayne Werner Memorial Scholarship for marine science students; the Gulf Commercial Fisherman Program (GCFP) for training new deckhands; disaster relief resources for hurricane-affected fishermen; a membership program; a Find Gulf Seafood directory of retailers; and Electronic Monitoring services using camera technology. The organization also engages in policy advocacy for sustainable fisheries management. The organization is a 501(c)(6) non-profit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gulf Wild™: The only seafood traceability program in the nation that was built by fishermen for fishermen. When consumers see a Gulf Wild™ tag or notice the Gulf Wild™ brand in local restaurant or fish market, they know they are supporting sustainable seafood.

Products and services

• Gulf Reef Fish Quota Bank Leases red snapper allocation to eligible grouper fishermen and next-generation red snapper fishermen to reduce discards and support sustainable fishing businesses.
• Membership Program Annual membership for commercial fishermen, starting at $25, providing newsletters, policy updates, and exclusive member benefits while supporting advocacy for commercial fishing families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced red snapper discards in the eastern Gulf through Quota Bank program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Charter Fisherman's Association (CFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFA was formed by Charter-for-Hire fishermen to ensure American public access to fishing, engage and represent the charter for hire industry, and ensure long-term sustainability. The Shareholders' Alliance has supported charter-for-hire reform through this partnership.
• Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCC is an association of community-based, small-boat commercial fishing groups representing more than 1,000 independent fishermen from Maine to Alaska. The Shareholders' Alliance works with FCC to support the Young Fishermen's Development Act and advocate for commercial fishing interests.
• Seafood Harvesters of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadly-based organization representing commercial fishermen and their associations from George's Bank to the Bering Sea and California to Florida Keys. Committed to stewardship responsibility and accountability in fisheries.
• Texas Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Texas Sea Grant to launch the Gulf Commercial Fisherman Program (GCFP) in 2024, designed to recruit and train the next generation of commercial deckhands.
• Florida Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Florida Sea Grant to launch the Gulf Commercial Fisherman Program (GCFP) in 2024, designed to recruit and train the next generation of commercial deckhands.
• Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote (CFEMM)coreTechnology or IntegrationSince 2016, the Shareholders' Alliance has been working with CFEMM to test and advance Electronic Monitoring (EM) in the commercial reef fish fishery. CFEMM collects and reviews camera data from fishing vessels.
• Southern Offshore Fishing Association (S.O.F.A.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerS.O.F.A. joined with the Shareholders' Alliance and A.P. Bell Fish Company to file a lawsuit challenging NOAA's Amendment 53 red grouper reallocation. Joint advocacy and legal action against unfair quota reallocation.
• A.P. Bell Fish CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined with Shareholders' Alliance and S.O.F.A. to legally challenge Amendment 53 reallocation of red grouper quota from commercial to recreational sector.
• National Future Fishermen CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of six commercial fishing groups dedicated to securing the future of commercial fishing in the U.S. by supporting the next generation of fishermen and women.
• Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management CouncilcoreOthersThe Shareholders' Alliance actively engages with the Gulf Council on fishery management decisions, regulatory proposals, and policy priorities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• National Fisheries Institute: National seafood-industry trade association representing processors, suppliers, restaurants, and related businesses. It is a broad incumbent because it shares industry representation and member services across a wider seafood ecosystem.
• A.P. Bell Fish Company: Commercial seafood company involved in the Gulf reef-fish supply chain and the Alliance's Amendment 53 litigation. It shares the same quota and regulatory environment but operates a for-profit supply-chain model rather than membership advocacy.

Others

• Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission: Regional commission coordinating Gulf state fishery management and stakeholder engagement. It is an ecosystem and regulatory peer rather than a commercial competitor.
• FishWise: Nonprofit focused on sustainable seafood and traceability across seafood supply chains. It is an adjacent peer to Gulf Wild's boat-to-plate mission, but does not provide the same fisherman advocacy or quota-bank services.
• Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote: Research and technology center operating vessel camera monitoring and data review. It is an adjacent technology peer to the Alliance's electronic-monitoring program.

Direct peers

• Seafood Harvesters of America: National association of commercial fishermen and their associations spanning major U.S. fishing regions. It is directly comparable as a member-led advocacy and stewardship organization serving commercial fishing interests.
• Fishing Communities Coalition: Coalition of community-based, small-boat commercial fishing groups representing more than 1,000 independent fishermen from Maine to Alaska. It is comparable through member representation, policy advocacy, and fisheries stewardship programs.
• Charter Fisherman's Association: Association of charter-for-hire fishermen focused on public access, representation, and sustainability. It overlaps with the Alliance's Gulf constituency and advocacy function, although its core segment is charter rather than reef-fish commercial fishing.
• Southern Offshore Fishing Association: Gulf-focused fishing association that joined the Alliance and A.P. Bell in a legal challenge to Amendment 53. It shares the same regional constituency and policy-advocacy and regulatory-exposure profile.

Emerging players

• National Future Fishermen Coalition: Coalition of six commercial fishing groups dedicated to next-generation fishermen and women. It is an emerging peer in training, mentorship, and future-of-fishing programs.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GulfAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shareholdersalliance

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 Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance