southeast alaska guides organization

What southeast alaska guides organization does

Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit industry association headquartered in Ketchikan, Alaska, that serves as the unified advocacy voice for guided sportfishing operations in Southeast Alaska. The organization represents charter businesses, multi-vessel lodges, individual captains and crew, and supporting coastal businesses (hotels, fuel docks, restaurants, marine services) across communities including Sitka, Ketchikan, Craig, Juneau, Elfin Cove, Prince of Wales Island, and Admiralty Island. Its core activity is regulatory and policy representation: SEAGO maintains active participation in the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), and the Pacific Salmon Commission, and extends into habitat advocacy through partnerships such as the T77 American Salmon Forest Campaign with Trout Unlimited and Tongass National Forest land-management defense.

SEAGO's service offering is membership-based rather than product-based, with three annual dues tiers: Industry membership at $1,000 per vessel for owners, lodges, and multi-vessel operators; Skipper/Staff membership at $100 for individual captains, guides, and crew; and Associate membership starting at $500 for supporting businesses. Delivery channels include a website, Facebook and X social accounts, email newsletters and action alerts, webinars, an industry calendar tracking regulatory meetings, and direct advocacy campaigns. The organization is staffed by three people — Co-Executive Directors Forrest Braden and Kim Landeen and Membership and Events Coordinator Lindsay Anthony — and governed by a board of directors drawn from across the operator membership. SEAGO does not operate proprietary technology and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Revenue is generated almost entirely from recurring annual membership dues, supplemented by ancillary donations processed via Givebutter. According to the 2024 McKinley Research Group economic-impact study commissioned by SEAGO, the underlying guided sportfishing industry supports 1,750 jobs, $65M in labor income, and $271M in total economic impact across Southeast Alaska; these figures describe the industry's footprint, not SEAGO's own revenue, which is a small fraction given the 3-person staff and ~40+ member companies. SEAGO's growth model is community-led: expand membership, deepen regulatory standing, and broaden advocacy scope while remaining operationally lean.

Name

southeast alaska guides organization

Legal name

Southeast Alaska Guides Organization

Website

https://seagoalaska.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association that advocates for guided sportfishing operators, lodges, captains, and supporting coastal businesses in Southeast Alaska through regulatory representation and industry coordination funded by annual membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sportfishing Industry Association

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Fishing & Angling Charters / Guides (THAAALAD)

Keywords

• Sportfishing industry association
• Fisheries advocacy services
• Regulatory representation
• Membership organization
• Trade association

Headquarters

HQ city

Ketchikan

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

Revenue model

1. Industry Membership Fees: Annual membership fees charged to sportfishing businesses (vessel owners, lodges, multi-vessel businesses) at $1,000 per vessel annually. This represents the primary revenue stream for the organization's advocacy and representation activities.
2. Associate Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from $500+ for businesses that support or benefit from Southeast Alaska's sportfishing economy (hotels, fuel docks, restaurants, marine services, tourism businesses).
3. Skipper/Staff Membership Fees: Annual membership fees of $100 for captains, guides, crew, and industry staff individuals working within Southeast Alaska's sportfishing industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association that represents guided sportfishing businesses operating in Southeast Alaska. The organization delivers fisheries advocacy, regulatory representation, fleet communication, and industry coordination through tiered membership programs targeting vessel owners, lodges, captains/crew, supporting businesses, and angler supporters. SEAGO actively participates in state, federal, and international fisheries management processes on behalf of the guided sportfishing industry.

Product overview

Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit industry association that provides advocacy, representation, and stewardship services for Southeast Alaska sport fishing operations. Rather than offering a traditional product portfolio, SEAGO functions as the collective voice for guided sport fishing businesses, offering membership programs, regulatory engagement, economic impact research, and fleet communication services to its industry members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEAGO Membership Program Tiered membership program providing fisheries advocacy, regulatory representation at the Alaska Board of Fisheries, NPFMC, IPHC, and Pacific Salmon Commission, fleet communications, action alerts, webinars, and industry coordination for guided sportfishing operations and supporters in Southeast Alaska.
• Southeast Alaska Sportfishing Economic Impact Study Economic impact research study conducted with McKinley Research Group documenting the contribution of Southeast Alaska's guided sport fishing industry, including $271M in economic impact, 1,750 jobs supported, and $65M in labor income.
• SEAGO Industry Calendar Industry event calendar tracking Alaska Board of Fisheries, NPFMC, IPHC, Advisory Committee, webinar, port visit, and legislative meeting dates to support member advocacy and regulatory engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• $271M in economic impact generated by guided sportfishing industry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)coreOthersSEAGO participates in IPHC processes as the body managing Pacific halibut stocks between the U.S. and Canada. SEAGO Executive Director Forrest Braden attends annual IPHC meetings; Board Member Richard Yamada serves as a U.S. Commissioner on the IPHC. SEAGO works to protect Southeast guided halibut regulations from regulatory encroachment.
• North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC)coreOthersNPFMC is one of eight regional councils overseeing management of nation's fisheries with jurisdiction over the 900,000-square mile EEZ off Alaska. SEAGO participates in NPFMC processes primarily on halibut allocation, halibut bycatch, and salmon bycatch issues. SEAGO works with Council members and staff on charter halibut management.
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG)coreOthersADFG manages state fisheries and SEAGO engages with the department on sportfishing regulations, electronic reporting programs, and management measures. SEAGO provides feedback on ADFG proposals and participates in advisory committees.
• Alaska Board of FisheriescoreOthersThe Board of Fisheries has regulatory and allocative authority over state fisheries. SEAGO actively participates in Board meetings, submits proposals, and mobilizes industry members to provide testimony on issues affecting guided sportfishing.
• Pacific Salmon CommissioncoreOthersThe PSC implements the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the U.S. and Canada. SEAGO provides sportfishing representation through charter/sport representatives Tom Ohaus and Russell Thomas who advise U.S. Commissioners on salmon-related issues.
• Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA)minorOthersSEAGO Board Member Russell Thomas sits on the SSRAA Board which oversees salmon enhancement programs in southern Southeast Alaska.
• Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fishery Association (SARDFA)minorOthersSEAGO Board Member Russell Thomas sits on the SARDFA Board representing dive fishery interests.
• CATCH Association (Catch Accountability Through Compensated Halibut)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCATCH developed the proposal for the Recreationalational Quota Entity (RQE) program. SEAGO staff previously worked on CATCH helping form RQE mechanics. SEAGO Board Member Richard Yamada serves as Executive Director of CATCH which was granted control of the RQE.
• T77 American Salmon Forest CampaignminorOthersSEAGO signed on to the T77 campaign with Trout Unlimited to protect salmon habitat within the Tongass National Forest. The campaign focuses on keeping over 70 watersheds off-limits to harmful development while allowing existing uses like sportfishing.
• Tongass National Forest Land Management AdvocacyminorOthersSEAGO joined efforts to maintain Forest Service management of Tongass lands and protect against proposals to transfer federal lands to state or private ownership for development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Trout Unlimited: Trout Unlimited is a member-based conservation organization that advocates for fish habitat, water policy, and angler interests. It shares SEAGO's stewardship and policy-engagement model, though its coldwater conservation mission is broader and does not specifically center charter operators.
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is a coalition that engages anglers, hunters, and conservation-minded businesses in public-land and natural-resource policy. It is comparable through its policy advocacy and angler-business constituency, but it is not a sportfishing-operator trade association.
• Marine Fish Conservation Network: The Marine Fish Conservation Network is a coalition of fishing businesses, scientists, and conservation organizations that influences federal marine-fish policy. It is thematically comparable to SEAGO's use of economic research, stakeholder coordination, and advocacy around sustainable fisheries.

Broad incumbents

• International Game Fish Association: The International Game Fish Association is a member-supported recreational fishing organization focused on angler records, science, conservation, and responsible fishing practices. It shares SEAGO's recreational-angling audience and stewardship orientation but operates at a much broader international scale.
• Coastal Conservation Association: The Coastal Conservation Association is an established marine conservation and angler-advocacy organization with state-level chapters and policy engagement. It is comparable to SEAGO in mobilizing recreational anglers around habitat, access, and fisheries management, although it has a broader geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• American Fly Fishing Trade Association: The American Fly Fishing Trade Association represents businesses serving the fly-fishing market through industry advocacy, education, and market-development programs. It has partial overlap with SEAGO in fishing-sector membership and representation, but its primary constituency is manufacturers, retailers, and media rather than charter operators.

Direct peers

• American Sportfishing Association: The American Sportfishing Association is a national trade association serving companies and stakeholders in the recreational fishing economy. It is comparable through its business membership, policy advocacy, conservation work, and efforts to expand participation in sportfishing.
• National Association of Charterboat Operators: The National Association of Charterboat Operators represents charterboat owners and operators through industry advocacy, information sharing, and regulatory engagement. Its national charter-operator membership model closely parallels SEAGO's representation of guided sportfishing businesses in Southeast Alaska.
• Recreational Fishing Alliance: The Recreational Fishing Alliance advocates for recreational fishing access and mobilizes anglers and fishing businesses around regulatory issues. Its grassroots policy model and recreational-fishing constituency closely overlap with SEAGO's advocacy mission.

Regional players

• Alaska Travel Industry Association: The Alaska Travel Industry Association is a regional membership and advocacy organization for Alaska's tourism economy. It is comparable through its regional coalition-building and policy representation, but it represents a much broader set of tourism businesses rather than guided sportfishing alone.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SEAGO09
• Facebookfacebook.com/159884987407509
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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