Ventura Port District

What Ventura Port District does

Ventura Port District is an Independent Special District of the State of California, established by voter referendum in 1952 and operating within the City of Ventura. It owns and operates Ventura Harbor, a 274-acre multiple-use recreational and commercial fishing small craft harbor (152 acres of land, 122 acres of water) that opened in June 1963 after a $4.75 million general obligation bond. The district manages harbor navigation and dredging (with up to $8M in annual federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers appropriations and a $3M dredging reserve), Harbor Patrol safety and emergency response, four marinas totaling more than 1,200 slips (VHV Marina plus tenant operators Safe Harbor Ventura Isle, Ventura West Marina, and Portside Ventura Marina), a six-lane public launch ramp with ~180 parking spaces, three public beaches, dry boat storage, fuel docks, and the Ventura Harbor Village commercial district with 30+ restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and entertainment venues.

The district's customer base spans four primary segments: tourists and day visitors to Ventura Harbor Village and beaches; recreational boaters served through the marina cluster and Channel Islands National Park gateway traffic (via Island Packers ferry); commercial fishing operations including 44 homeported squid seiners and seafood processors (Silver Bay Seafoods, Del Mar Seafoods/Ocean Angel, J De Luca Fish Company, Tri Marine); and harbor-village commercial tenants, hospitality operators (Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort), and the Portside Ventura residential community. Ventura Harbor is the largest market squid landing port on the U.S. West Coast south of Alaska, averaging 23% of California market squid offloads (up to 41% in peak years) and accounting for nearly $200M of landings between 2009 and 2023.

The business model is a hybrid of property leasing, transactional fees, and recurring moorages, with no public financial disclosure. Revenue streams include Harbor Village commercial and retail leasing, marina slips and dry boat storage, paid parking (implemented July 11, 2025 with hourly/daily rates and a $150 annual boater pass via LAZ Parking and Token Transit), launch ramp fees, commercial identification cards ($207 application fee plus $25.88 per employee), and special-event and film permits. The district is governed by a five-member Board of Port Commissioners appointed by the Mayor of Ventura, has no parent entity, and operates as a fiscal and administrative standalone governmental unit.

Name

Ventura Port District

Legal name

Ventura Port District

Website

https://venturaharbor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ventura Port District is a California Independent Special District that owns and operates Ventura Harbor — a 274-acre small craft harbor encompassing marinas, Ventura Harbor Village, beaches, the public launch ramp, and the gateway to Channel Islands National Park — serving tourists, recreational boaters, and commercial fishing operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port and Harbor Management

NAICS

Marinas (713930), Port and Harbor Operations (488310)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Ferry Terminal & Passenger Pier Operations (Ferry-Specific) (THAIAJAJ)

Keywords

• Harbor management services
• Port district operations
• Marina facility management
• Commercial fishing port
• Waterfront commercial leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ventura

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Harbor Property Leasing: Revenue from leasing commercial and retail spaces within Ventura Harbor Village to restaurants, shops, and service providers. Also includes master lease arrangements with marina operators and commercial fishing businesses.
2. Marina Slips and Boat Storage: Revenue from wet slips, dry boat storage, and marina fees at Ventura Harbor Village Marina and district-owned facilities.
3. Launch Ramp and Parking Fees: Paid parking program at Ventura Harbor Village and beaches implemented July 2025, plus launch ramp parking fees at the public boat launch facility.
4. Commercial Identification Cards: Fees for commercial identification cards required for commercial activity operators at Ventura Harbor marinas. Application fee of $207 plus per-employee fees.
5. Special Event and Film Permits: Permit fees for special events, weddings, and film productions at Ventura Harbor beaches and facilities.
6. Federal Dredging Funding: Annual advocacy for federal funding from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for harbor maintenance dredging, up to $8 million annually. District maintains $3 million dredging reserve for inner harbor dredging.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ventura Port District owns and operates Ventura Harbor, a 274-acre multiple-use recreational and commercial fishing small craft harbor in Ventura, California. The district manages marina facilities (including its own VHV Marina with 103 wet slips and 88 dry storage spaces), the Ventura Harbor Village commercial retail and dining district with 30+ tenants, public launch ramp, dry boat storage, harbor patrol safety services, paid parking program, commercial fishing offload operations (premier California market squid landing port), beach facilities, commercial identification card program, and event/film permitting. Ventura Harbor serves as the official gateway to Channel Islands National Park via Island Packers ferry service.

Product overview

Ventura Port District operates Ventura Harbor as a unified harbor management platform with multiple interconnected services and facilities. The core product is Ventura Harbor, a 274-acre multiple-use recreational and commercial fishing small craft harbor. Supporting this core are distinct operational divisions: Ventura Harbor Village (retail/restaurant commercial district), multiple marina facilities (VHV Marina, Ventura West Marina, Safe Harbor Ventura Isle, Portside Ventura Marina, Derecktor Ventura), commercial fishing operations (fish offload, fish markets, commercial fisheries), sustainable aquaculture initiatives (Ventura Shellfish Enterprise, Ocean Rainforest), beach facilities (Harbor Cove Beach, South Beach, Surfer's Knoll Beach), fueling services, dry boat storage, launch ramp, boat clubs, and parking management. The district also provides Harbor Patrol safety services and Channel Islands National Park visitor services as complementary offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ventura Harbor A 274-acre multiple-use recreational and commercial fishing small craft harbor owned and operated by Ventura Port District, serving as a gateway to Channel Islands National Park with facilities for boaters, fishers, and visitors. Includes approximately 152 acres of land and 122 acres of water area, supporting commercial fishing operations, recreational boating, tourism, and commercial leasing activities.
• Ventura Harbor Village A vibrant seaside commercial district with over 30 boutiques, art galleries, waterfront restaurants, entertainment venues, water recreation rentals, and live music events. Operated by district tenants in a seaside shopping/dining destination adjacent to Ventura Harbor.
• VHV Marina (Ventura Harbor Village Marina) Ventura Harbor Village Marina fronts Ventura Harbor Village with modern docks focused on commercial fishing and recreational uses, accommodating squid seiners (capacity for 54 vessels, home to 44 squid seiners) and offering transient moorage ($1.50 per foot per day). Features 103 wet slips and 88 dry storage spaces.
• Ventura Harbor Public Launch Ramp Public launch ramp with six lanes and approximately 180 parking spaces, available 24/7 with paid parking adjacent to fuel and bait dock. Pricing includes free under 1 hour with license plate registration, $10/day up to 4 days, $150 annual boater pass, and $3.50 per boat wash down cycle (max $15).
• Harbor Patrol Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 23% of California Market Squid landings (averaged 2009-2023), reaching as high as 41%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

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

• Island PackerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIsland Packers is the official concessionaire to Channel Islands National Park, offering ferry services from Ventura Harbor to all five Channel Islands. Serves as the gateway operator for Channel Islands National Park visitors.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPS owns 2.74 acres within Ventura Harbor for the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center. District donated the land in 1982. Ongoing collaboration for visitor services and park support.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency responsible for annual maintenance dredging of Ventura Harbor entrance channel and sand trap pursuant to Public Law 90-483. District advocates for annual federal appropriations up to $8 million for dredging.
• California Marine Affairs & Navigation Conference (CMANC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of California harbors, ports, and marine contractors working with Corps of Engineers and congressional delegation to secure funding for California maritime navigation projects.
• Safe Harbor MarinasmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLargest marina owner/operator in the world, operating Safe Harbor Ventura Isle (580 slips) as master tenant at Ventura Harbor. Based in Dallas, Texas.
• Almar MarinasmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarina management company managing Portside Ventura Marina (104 slips) under management agreement with district.
• Ventura West MarinamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFull-service marina with 554 slips operating as tenant within Ventura Harbor.
• LAZ ParkingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party parking payment processing vendor for Ventura Harbor paid parking program implemented July 2025.
• Gold Coast TransitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Late Night Safe Rides Program for harbor visitors, offering $5 fare rides to reduce impaired driving.
• Derecktor VenturamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarina and boatyard with 35-ton travel lift, dry storage, and repair services including wood/metal fabrication, paint, and composite work. Located at harbor entrance.
• Port of HuenememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Port of Hueneme to consolidate offloading infrastructure in Ventura Harbor, expected to significantly increase squid offloading volume in 2020s.
• Ventura Shellfish Enterprise (VSE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-party initiative to permit twenty 100-acre plots for growing Mediterranean mussels via submerged long lines in Santa Barbara Channel waters adjacent to Ventura Harbor.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Channel Islands Harbor: Operated by the County of Ventura in Oxnard, Channel Islands Harbor is a nearby small-craft harbor in the same county that combines recreational marinas, commercial fishing, and waterfront commercial real estate. It is directly comparable in scale, customer mix (recreational boaters, commercial fishermen, tourists), and Southern California coastal operating environment.
• Santa Barbara Harbor: Santa Barbara Harbor is a California small-craft harbor operated by the City of Santa Barbara with recreational marina slips, commercial fishing facilities, waterfront dining, and tourism traffic. It is directly comparable as a mid-size Southern California multi-use coastal harbor with similar regulatory exposure under the California Coastal Act.
• Marina del Rey (County of Los Angeles): Marina del Rey is a Los Angeles County-operated small-craft harbor combining recreational boating slips, waterfront residential, hospitality, and commercial recreation. It is directly comparable to Ventura as a public-sector-owned California small-craft harbor of similar scale serving recreational boaters and visitors.
• Morro Bay Harbor Department: The City of Morro Bay operates a comparable small-craft harbor combining commercial fishing, recreational boating, and tourism on the California coast. It shares the public-sector governance model, coastal permitting environment, and similar customer mix (commercial fishermen, recreational boaters, day visitors), making it a structurally analogous peer.
• Port of Hueneme (Oxnard Harbor District): The Port of Hueneme is Ventura Port District's explicit infrastructure partner for consolidating squid offloading and is a comparably structured California harbor district operating waterfront commercial facilities and fishing infrastructure. It shares the same California coastal regulatory environment and is actively collaborating with Ventura on commercial fishing volume capture.
• Dana Point Harbor (County of Orange): Dana Point Harbor is a Southern California small-craft harbor combining recreational marinas, commercial fishing, waterfront dining, and tourism in a multi-tenant destination format. It is directly comparable to Ventura Harbor in scale, customer segments, and the multi-use harbor-with-village operating model.
• Oceanside Harbor District: Oceanside Harbor is a Southern California small-craft harbor with marinas, commercial fishing, beaches, and waterfront hospitality offerings. It is structurally similar to Ventura in combining recreational boating, commercial fishing, beaches, and a Harbor Village-like commercial district, all under public-sector governance.
• Newport Beach Harbor: Newport Beach Harbor is a Southern California recreational small-craft harbor with a dense marina base, recreational boating focus, and waterfront commercial districts. It is comparable to Ventura in operating model and customer base, though it skews more recreational and high-end versus Ventura's mix of commercial fishing and tourism.

Broad incumbents

• Safe Harbor Marinas: Safe Harbor Marinas is the world's largest marina owner/operator and currently operates Safe Harbor Ventura Isle (580 slips) as a master tenant at Ventura Harbor. It is comparable as the dominant private-sector marina operator competing for tenants and operational best practices in the same harbor, and as a broader benchmark for marina management economics.
• San Diego Unified Port District: San Diego Unified Port District is a much larger California port authority operating San Diego Bay's waterfront including cruise terminals, cargo, marinas, hotels, and tourism destinations. It is comparable as a California public port district with overlapping marina, tourism, and commercial fishing exposure but at materially greater scale and broader mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VenturaHarbor
• Facebookfacebook.com/venturaharbor
• Instagraminstagram.com/venturaharbor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ventura-port-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Ventura Port District