Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes

What Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes does

Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes (Maritime Fishermen's Union, MFU) is a New Brunswick–based, non-profit membership organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in Shediac. It represents more than 1,300 inshore fish harvesters across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through a federated structure of nine local fishermen's associations, serving as the accredited voice of its members in regulatory and policy dealings with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) under New Brunswick's Fisheries Representation Act.

The union operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Homarus (est. 2001), which conducts lobster conservation research including artificial reef deployment (over 60,000 structures) and a lobster seeding program (over 7 million seeded lobsters), and Opilio, which administers the Community Snow Crab Fishery and snow crab quota management on behalf of members. Core technology and program assets include the Homarus Eco-Centre for member education, an Electronic Fishing Log Book project under development to digitize catch reporting, and ongoing scientific research outputs that feed into the union's DFO submissions.

Revenue is generated through member dues and managed quota/allocation services; the organization runs with a small staff of 1-10 employees and reinvests into advocacy, conservation, and member-benefit programs rather than seeking profit distribution. There is no disclosed capital raise, investor base, or external funding signal, and the business model is fundamentally that of a member-funded industry association rather than a growth-oriented enterprise.

Name

Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes

Legal name

Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes

Website

https://mfu-upm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes (Maritime Fishermen's Union) is a 1977-founded, New Brunswick–based non-profit that represents over 1,300 inshore fish harvesters across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through nine local associations, delivering advocacy, lobster research, and snow crab quota management via its Homarus and Opilio subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fishermen's Union / Trade Association Services

NAICS

Shellfish Fishing (114112), Finfish Fishing (114111), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Seafood & Aquaculture Certification Services (MSC/ASC/BAP) (AFALAMAL)

Keywords

• Fishermen union services
• Inshore fisheries advocacy
• Fisheries advisory services
• Lobster sustainability research
• Snow crab quota management

Headquarters

HQ city

Shediac

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

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: Fees collected from member fishermen who are recognized as core fishers under DFO designation. Members pay for representation and access to union services.
2. Quota Management: Through Opilio subsidiary, manages snow crab quota allocation and community impact program investments for member communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes (Maritime Fishermen's Union) is a private membership-based trade union that represents and advocates for over 1,300 inshore fish harvesters across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Its core services include member representation before the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), fisheries advisory support, sustainable fishery management programs, and Community Impact Program investments. It operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Homarus (a non-profit research and development organization focused on lobster sustainability, including artificial reefs and lobster seeding) and Opilio (which manages the snow crab quota and community interest investments).

Product overview

The Maritime Fishermen's Union (MFU) is a membership-based fishermen's organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include member representation services, sustainability programs, and community impact initiatives. The organization operates through two key subsidiaries: Homarus (a science and research organization focused on lobster sustainability) and Opilio (which manages snow crab quota and community investments). The MFU offers community programs such as the Community Snow Crab Fishery with annual draws, educational outreach through the Homarus Eco-Centre, and technology projects including an electronic fishing log book under development. Member services include fisheries advisory support, a Facebook-based marketplace for equipment sales, and advocacy for coastal fishing communities in Atlantic Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Member Representation and Advocacy Services
• Homarus Lobster Sustainability Research Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7 million lobsters seeded in Atlantic Canada since 2002
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• HomaruscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Science subsidiary created by MFU in 2001. Non-profit research and development organization focused on lobster resource sustainability. Conducts artificial reef projects, lobster seeding programs, stock assessments, environmental research, and educational programs through the Homarus Eco-Centre.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO/MPO)coreOthersFederal government department responsible for fisheries management. MFU works with DFO on sustainable fishery management, quota allocation, licensing, and policy development.
• Homarus Science BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience branch of Homarus that conducts research on lobster population, habitat, climate change impacts, and sustainable fishing practices. Partners with DFO on species-at-risk workshops.
• Coalition of Atlantic and Quebec Fishing OrganizationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition created by MFU to defend the independence of fish harvesters across Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
• Provincial GovernmentsmajorOthersWorks with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia provincial governments on fisheries issues including the Province of New Brunswick for community interest loan repayment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Lobster Council of Canada: National lobster-sector council focused on marketing, sustainability, and quality standards for Canadian lobster. Overlaps with MFU around lobster sustainability and Homarus's reef/seeding work but does not provide direct representation.
• Seafarers International Union of Canada: Canadian union representing fishers and seafarers with collective-bargaining and advocacy functions parallel to MFU. Smaller and less region-specific in the Atlantic inshore context but built on the same union/membership DNA.

Regional players

• Seafood Producers Marketing Board (Newfoundland & Labrador): Newfoundland & Labrador's primary harvester/processor umbrella organization, running community-based quota and marketing schemes analogous to MFU's Opilio snow crab model. Comparable function but geographically distinct from MFU's NB/NS focus.

Others

• World Wildlife Fund Canada (Marine Programs): Large conservation NGO running marine habitat, fisheries sustainability, and ocean-stewardship programs that frequently partner with harvester organizations. Not a peer in advocacy terms but a frequent collaborator with MFU on sustainability initiatives.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Federal regulator that sets quota, licensing, and conservation rules for Canadian fisheries and is MFU's primary counterpart for policy engagement. Not a peer in commercial terms but the defining counterparty in MFU's operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Fisheries Council of Canada: National industry council representing the broader Canadian seafood industry (harvesters, processors, exporters). Overlaps with MFU at the federal-policy level but operates at a wider industry scope rather than the inshore-harvester niche.
• National Fisheries Institute: U.S.-based trade association for the seafood industry covering harvesting, processing, and retail. Comparable institutional role and advocacy function but operates in a different regulatory jurisdiction than MFU.
• Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance: National alliance representing Canadian aquaculture producers across finfish, shellfish, and other species. Adjacent to MFU's wild-harvester focus but overlaps on coastal marine resource policy and seafood sustainability.

Direct peers

• Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board: Shoreside harvester planning body representing Gulf Nova Scotia inshore licence holders on quota, licensing, and DFO engagement. Closely comparable in membership structure and geographic remit to MFU's Nova Scotia operations.
• PEI Fishermen's Association: Prince Edward Island harvesters' association with a comparable mandate of representing inshore commercial fishers, advocating on quota and licensing with DFO, and delivering member services across Atlantic Canada. Direct overlap with MFU's NB/NS scope and constituency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xchange.org/p/prime-minister-of-canada-support-peace-reconciliation-conservation-for-canada-s-fisheries-and-the-voice-of-canada
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/marcheupmmfumarketplace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/union-des-pecheurs-des-maritimes-maritime-fishermen-s-union

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes