Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association

What Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association does

Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association is a private, membership-based harbour authority that operates and maintains a single wharf facility at 1699 Cowichan Bay Road in Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, Canada. The association assumed management of the wharf from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Small Craft Harbours (DFO/SCH) program in the late 1990s and now operates under a DFO/SCH lease, governed by DFO/SCH Rules and Regulations. The facility provides transient and long-term moorage to four vessel segments — licensed Canadian commercial fishing vessels (highest priority), indigenous fishing vessels, workboats (aquaculture, government, water taxis, pilot boats, tugs), and pleasure craft — on a linear-tie basis with no slips or berths. The wharf also serves as home port for RCMSAR 34 Squadron and Cowichan Tribes Emergency Services Vessel.

The underlying technology is physical marine infrastructure — a linear wharf with power hookups, entry-coded washrooms, paid showers, laundry, and used oil/bilge water disposal — supported by a Wix-hosted website and a Facebook page for community engagement. The common-stack absence of any software platform, API, or booking system is notable: mariners contact the office by phone (250-746-5911) or VHF 66A on the day of arrival, and transient moorage is allocated first-come, first-served with no reservations. The blackwater pumpout is currently out of service.

Revenue is generated entirely from per-foot moorage fees (ranging from $0.50/foot/night for transient commercial fishing vessels to $2.25/foot/night for transient pleasure craft), monthly long-term rates ($1.75–$10.00/foot/month depending on vessel type and payment cadence), power charges, and small ancillary fees for showers and laundry. All billing is subject to 5% GST. The organization is a member of the Harbour Authority Association of British Columbia (HAABC) and hosts local vendors (Island Magic Experiences, Michelle Rose CSF) on-site. No funding, M&A, leadership changes, or expansion activity are disclosed.

Name

Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association

Legal name

Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association

Website

https://cbfwa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association is a private Canadian harbour authority that operates a leased DFO/SCH wharf at Cowichan Bay, BC, providing transient and long-term moorage to commercial fishing vessels, indigenous fishing vessels, workboats, and pleasure craft under a federal priority framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cowichan Bay

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Moorage Fees: Recurring moorage fees charged to vessels based on length (foot measurement), power usage, and facility fees. Billing subject to 5% GST. Supports transient (nightly/weekly), monthly, and quarterly payment options for different vessel types including pleasure craft, commercial fishing vessels, and workboats.
2. Amenity Services: Additional revenue from shower facilities ($1.00/5 minutes), laundry services ($5.00/load during office hours), and other ancillary services for wharf clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association manages and operates a wharf facility at 1699 Cowichan Bay Rd, providing transient and long-term moorage services for licensed commercial fishing vessels, indigenous fishing vessels, workboats (aquaculture, government, water taxis, pilot boats, tugs), and pleasure craft. Services include length-based daily/monthly moorage rates with power and facility fees, on-site amenities such as washrooms, showers, and laundry, plus used oil and bilge water disposal. The organization operates under DFO/SCH governance with a priority access system for commercial and indigenous fishing vessels.

Product overview

Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association operates as a harbour facility offering moorage and related amenities to various vessel types. The organization provides tiered moorage services: transient and long-term moorage for pleasure craft, commercial fishing vessels, and workboats. Supporting facilities include washrooms, showers, laundry, and used oil/bilge water disposal. The wharf partners with local vendors including Island Magic Experiences (tours and charters) and Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery (seafood sales) to enhance the visitor experience. The facility is governed by DFO/SCH Rules and Regulations and serves vessels in descending priority: Commercial/Indigenous Fishing Vessels, Workboats, then Pleasure Craft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Moorage Services

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HAABC (Harbour Authority Association of BC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of HAABC - the Harbour Authority Association of BC. This membership provides industry networking, best practices sharing, and visibility within the BC harbour authority community.
• Island Magic ExperiencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal vendor located at the wharf offering tours, charters, and marine services. Provides safe, fun and educational experiences highlighting Vancouver Island and surrounding waters. Connected through the Services section of the wharf website.
• Michelle Rose CSF (Community Supported Fishery)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity supported fishery operated by long-time West Coast fisherman Guy Johnston. Located at the wharf, providing local community access to west coast's highest quality seafood at prices fair to both members and fishers. Connected through the Services section of the wharf website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Lund Harbour Authority: Small BC harbour authority on the Sunshine Coast operating under a comparable DFO/SCH-style divestiture model, serving commercial fishing, workboats, and pleasure craft — a structural twin of CBFWA.
• Genoa Bay Marina: Small marina on the north side of Cowichan Bay explicitly cited in CBFWA's own data as the next closest harbour accepting transient vessels. Same geography, same customer base, same moorage model.
• French Creek Harbour Authority: Mid-Vancouver Island harbour authority and HAABC peer offering mixed commercial fishing / recreational moorage. Highly comparable operating model and customer mix to CBFWA.
• Ganges Marina: Salt Spring Island marina offering transient and long-term moorage for pleasure craft and small commercial operators in a similar BC coastal island setting. Direct functional peer for moorage operations.
• False Bay Harbour Authority: Small Lasqueti Island harbour authority serving commercial fishing and recreational vessels under DFO/SCH-style governance. Same scale and operating profile as CBFWA.
• Maple Bay Marina: Working/recreational marina in Maple Bay, immediately adjacent to Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island. Comparable mix of pleasure craft and seasonal moorage customers with similar rate-card economics.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Victoria (Greater Victoria Harbour Authority): Regional port authority overseeing Fisherman's Wharf and other marine facilities on southern Vancouver Island. Much larger scale but the closest broad incumbent operating marina-style assets in CBFWA's broader geography.

Regional players

• Schooner Cove Marina: Recreational-focused marina in Nanoose Bay, BC. Not a direct competitor in Cowichan Bay but a comparable BC moorage operator competing for the same transient cruising market along Vancouver Island's east coast.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Cowichan-Bay-Fishermans-Wharf/61571868264991

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cowichan Bay Fisherman's Wharf Association