Wild Fish Conservancy
Wild Fish Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989, headquartered in Duvall, Washington, that uses scientific research, habitat restoration, and legal advocacy to protect and recover wild salmon and steelhead ecosystems across the Pacific Northwest, serving government agencies, tribal nations, and individual supporters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersDuvall, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Wild Fish Conservancy does
Wild Fish Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 and headquartered in Duvall, Washington, dedicated to protecting, conserving, and restoring wild fish ecosystems — primarily wild salmon and steelhead — across the Pacific Northwest from California to Alaska. It combines three integrated capabilities: (1) applied scientific research and field monitoring, including a proprietary Water Typing system that has reclassified nearly 7,000 stream reaches since 1994, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, fish passage assessment, and habitat restoration design; (2) legal advocacy and policy work, with a track record of Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act litigation that has closed two Columbia River hatchery programs, secured a court ruling against Nationwide Permit 56, and upheld Washington's first-in-the-world ban on commercial net pen aquaculture; and (3) grassroots coalition building through the Our Sound, Our Salmon campaign, which mobilizes over 10,000 individuals and 100+ organizations.
The organization's offerings fall into three revenue streams: donations and memberships from individual supporters, merchandise sales (branded apparel and Photarium underwater viewing devices priced $100-$250), and fee-for-service contracted work for government agencies, tribal nations, private landowners, and NGOs — spanning permitting, environmental engineering, fish passage prioritization, monitoring and surveying, stream typing, GIS analysis, fish trap design, and policy review. The Fish Trap Project, an experimental selective-fishing research initiative, and an interactive public mapping platform for stream assessment data are additional technical assets.
Wild Fish Conservancy is governed by a scientist-led board of directors and operates with a small, specialized team of approximately 20 professionals. It has no parent company, no equity investors, and no disclosed funding rounds; capital is sourced from donations, grants, and service revenue. Strategic partnerships with The Conservation Angler, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Patagonia Provisions, and Hakai Magazine extend its reach into litigation, peer-reviewed research, commercial supply chains, and public media.
Wild Fish Conservancy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wild Fish Conservancy
- Legal name
- Wild Fish Conservancy
- Website
- https://wildfishconservancy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wild Fish Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989, headquartered in Duvall, Washington, that uses scientific research, habitat restoration, and legal advocacy to protect and recover wild salmon and steelhead ecosystems across the Pacific Northwest, serving government agencies, tribal nations, and individual supporters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wild Fish Conservancy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Conservation & Human–Wildlife Conflict Mitigation (BPAGAIAI)
Keywords
Where Wild Fish Conservancy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Duvall
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wild Fish Conservancy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Memberships: Wild Fish Conservancy relies on member donations and supporter contributions as a primary revenue source. The organization offers membership programs with benefits for supporters.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including WFC gear (hats, apparel) and Photariums (underwater viewing devices priced $100-$250) with all profits benefiting wild fish recovery initiatives.
- Contracted Services: Providing specialized services to private landowners, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and sovereign nations. Services include permitting assistance, environmental engineering, fish passage prioritization, monitoring and surveying, stream typing, fish habitat restoration, underwater photography, GIS analysis, fish exclusion, and policy review.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Small Photarium |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Medium Photarium |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Large Photarium |
| Unit Pricing | One time | XL Photarium |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Lamprey Photarium |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Wild Fish Conservancy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wild Fish Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines scientific research, field monitoring, habitat restoration engineering, environmental DNA analysis, water typing, fish passage assessment, and policy/legal advocacy to protect and recover wild salmon, steelhead, and other wild fish ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. It generates impact through in-house research, litigation under the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act, and contracted technical services delivered to government agencies, tribal nations, private landowners, businesses, and other nonprofits. It also sells Photariums (underwater viewing devices) and branded merchandise to support its conservation mission.
Product overview
Wild Fish Conservancy operates as a conservation nonprofit offering a portfolio of physical products and services centered on wild fish research, education, and advocacy. The core offerings include Photariums (underwater viewing tools sold in five sizes for scientific and educational use) and WFC Gear merchandise, alongside contracted technical services spanning permitting, environmental engineering, fish passage assessment, habitat restoration design, GIS analysis, and policy consulting. Supporting these are interactive online mapping tools and The Fish Trap Project, an experimental research initiative exploring selective fishing technologies. The organization does not operate a unified software platform; rather it provides field equipment, professional services, and public data resources to advance wild fish conservation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Photariums Underwater viewing devices designed by Wild Fish Conservancy staff, used by scientists, educators, and photographers worldwide to safely observe wild fish of all species in the field. Available in Small, Medium, Large, XL, and Lamprey-specific models with reversible/removable inserts, priced $100-$250.
- WFC Gear Custom Wild Fish Conservancy branded merchandise including hats and apparel, sold with all profits supporting wild fish recovery and protection initiatives.
- Contracted Services Fee-for-service technical expertise offered by Wild Fish Conservancy staff to private landowners, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and sovereign nations. Services include permitting, environmental engineering, fish passage prioritization, monitoring/surveying, stream typing, fish habitat restoration, underwater photography/videography, GIS, fish exclusion, fish trap design/engineering/operation, and policy review.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully advocated for Washington State to become the first place in the world to remove and permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Wild Fish Conservancy
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wild Fish Conservancy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Wild Fish Conservancy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Conservation AnglercorePartnership with The Conservation Angler as co-plaintiffs in multiple federal lawsuits to protect wild salmon and steelhead under the Endangered Species Act. Joint efforts include litigation against NOAA Fisheries over Columbia River hatchery programs and petitions for Olympic Peninsula steelhead ESA protections.
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationcoreCollaborative research partnership on Chinook salmon studies. Joint research found that harvesting immature Chinook salmon is shrinking salmon size and reducing future returns. Co-authored studies published in peer-reviewed journals including Nature and BioScience.
- Washington Department of Fish and WildlifecoreCollaboration on fish passage prioritization using WDFW's Priority Index methodology. Partnership in the Mitchell Act and SAFE hatchery lawsuit settlement that will close two hatchery programs and reduce a third.
- Snohomish County Surface Water Management DivisionminorPartnership on the Skykomish River Braided Reach Fish Use Analysis project, in collaboration with R2 Resource Consultants, to survey fish species composition, abundance, and age class distribution.
- Our Sound, Our Salmon CoalitioncoreLeading a broad-based coalition of over 10,000 individuals and 100+ businesses and organizations advocating for a Puget Sound free of commercial net pen aquaculture. Successfully campaigned for Washington's landmark ban on net pen aquaculture.
- First Nations of British ColumbiacoreStanding in solidarity with First Nations in British Columbia in efforts to end commercial salmon farms. First Nations direct action has led to shuttering of fish farms and Canada's commitment to phase out all fish farms from BC by 2025.
- PatagoniaminorPatagonia Provisions has adopted WFC's sustainable salmon sourcing framework published in Facets journal. Collaboration on taking back Puget Sound campaign featured in Patagonia's The Cleanest Line publication.
- Hakai MagazineminorCollaboration on The Paradox of Salmon Hatcheries, a four-part investigative audio series exploring the history, science, and consequences of the Northwest's reliance on hatchery production.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wild Fish Conservancy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Oceana: Largest international ocean-focused advocacy nonprofit, combining scientific research with policy campaigns. Comparable in its science-plus-advocacy model but operates globally rather than regionally.
- Trout Unlimited: The largest coldwater conservation nonprofit in the U.S., with national scope, large membership base, and significant habitat restoration programs. Overlaps with WFC in salmon/steelhead work but operates at a much larger scale and across broader geographies.
Others
- Earthjustice: Major environmental law organization that litigates cases under ESA and Clean Water Act — the same statutes WFC uses. WFC's Legal Director parallels Earthjustice's litigation-driven approach, though Earthjustice operates nationally across many issues.
Direct peers
- Pacific Rivers Council: Portland-based nonprofit focused on protecting and restoring Pacific Northwest river ecosystems through science, policy, and advocacy. Directly comparable mission and regional scope to WFC.
- The Conservation Angler: Pacific Northwest nonprofit dedicated to protecting wild steelhead and salmon, frequently partnering with WFC as co-plaintiff in ESA litigation. Direct peer in mission, geography, and legal advocacy strategy.
- Idaho Rivers United: Boise-based nonprofit advocating for wild and native fish recovery in Idaho, particularly Snake River salmon and steelhead. Direct peer in mission and advocacy tactics, with a more state-specific geographic focus.
- Save Our Wild Salmon: Coalition-style advocacy organization working to restore wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and Snake River basins. Highly comparable in mission and grassroots coalition model, though WFC has deeper in-house science capacity.
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation: British Columbia-based conservation charity that conducts applied research and advocacy on wild salmon, coastal wolves, and related species. WFC's active research collaborator on Chinook salmon studies and a directly comparable science-driven advocacy nonprofit.
- Wild Salmon Center: Portland-based nonprofit focused on wild salmonid conservation across the Pacific Rim, combining science, habitat restoration, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable to WFC in mission, geographic focus, and integrated research-advocacy model.
Regional players
- Salmon River Restoration Council: Northern California-based nonprofit focused on Klamath and Salmon River watershed restoration. Operates in an adjacent geography with similar habitat restoration and advocacy work, primarily serving California watersheds.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wild Fish Conservancy social profiles
Digital presenceWild Fish Conservancy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wild Fish Conservancy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Wild Fish Conservancy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wild Fish Conservancy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wild Fish Conservancy
What does Wild Fish Conservancy do?
Wild Fish Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines scientific research, field monitoring, habitat restoration engineering, environmental DNA analysis, water typing, fish passage assessment, and policy/legal advocacy to protect and recover wild salmon, steelhead, and other wild fish ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. It generates impact through in-house research, litigation under the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act, and contracted technical services delivered to government agencies, tribal nations, private landowners, businesses, and other nonprofits. It also sells Photariums (underwater viewing devices) and branded merchandise to support its conservation mission.
Is Wild Fish Conservancy a public or private company?
Wild Fish Conservancy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wild Fish Conservancy founded?
Wild Fish Conservancy was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wild Fish Conservancy based?
Wild Fish Conservancy is headquartered in Duvall, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wild Fish Conservancy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and contracted Services.
Who are Wild Fish Conservancy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Oceana and Trout Unlimited. Earthjustice is listed as an others. Direct peers are Pacific Rivers Council, The Conservation Angler, Idaho Rivers United, Save Our Wild Salmon, Raincoast Conservation Foundation and Wild Salmon Center. Salmon River Restoration Council is listed as a regional player.
Does Wild Fish Conservancy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wild Fish Conservancy.
What industry is Wild Fish Conservancy in?
Wild Fish Conservancy's product category is Wildlife Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAA, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8731.