Who we are
The Fishing Communities Coalition is an association of community-based, small scale commercial fishing organizations collectively representing more than 1,000 independent fishermen and business owners from Maine to Alaska. Our members share a commitment to the sustainable management of America’s fishery resources and the elevation of community values in ocean policy. Together, we work to support thriving commercial fisheries in each of our local communities, while acting as strong stewards of the marine environments off our shores.
FCC member organizations increase the economic viability of small scale commercial fishing in their regions. From the Sector Management approach in New England, to the red snapper Quota Bank in the Gulf of Mexico, to Community Supported Fisheries in Alaska, these fishing-focused initiatives help to rebuild fish populations by increasing catch accountability and minimizing wasteful bycatch and discards—all while keeping fishermen on the water and in business. The FCC and our members are committed to partnering with other stakeholders to apply conservation-minded solutions to local, regional, and national fishery management issues.
Our members
The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association is non-profit organization of community-based fishermen committed to sustainable fisheries and thriving fishing communities. Founded in 1978, ALFA promotes science-based management and local access to coastal fisheries. Through collaborative research, advocacy, and innovation, our members address resource issues, mentor young fishermen, and improve the economic viability of our small boat fleet. We are proud to provide high quality sustainably- harvested seafood and committed to protecting the ocean’s productivity for future generations.
The Alaska Marine Conservation Council is dedicated to protecting the long-term health of Alaska’s oceans and sustaining the working waterfronts of our coastal communities. We believe this is best accomplished through policy solutions that prioritize sustainable fishing practices, habitat protection, and local stewardship. We support an ecosystem-based approach to research and marine resource management that incorporates the best science available, experiential knowledge, and the wisdom of tradition. Our members include fishermen, subsistence harvesters, marine scientists, small business owners, and families.
The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance was launched in 1991 by a group of local commercial fishermen who saw the need for better fisheries management and wanted their experiences to inform it. We're an organization rooted in first-hand knowledge of ocean life and committed to sustaining our tradition of small-scale fishing. Our work—on fisheries management, scientific projects and community education—is all aimed at protecting fish and fishing for future generations. The Fishermen’s Alliance is run by and for Cape Cod's day-boat fishermen whose operations make a significant impact on our local economy and culture.
The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of commercial reef fish fishermen and other stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico. We work hard to maintain accountability and conservation-based management for our region’s fisheries for today and future generations. By working closely with regional managers, state agencies, and federal representatives, we strive to stabilize and improve fishery management to ensure that we can continue to provide the American public with a sustainable source of domestically-caught Gulf of Mexico seafood. Everything we do is founded in our belief that conservation and stewardship protect fish populations and fishermen’s businesses.
The Half Moon Bay Groundfish Marketing Association is a collaboration of commercial fishermen in Half Moon Bay participating in the West Coast Groundfish IFQ Fishery; one of the most regulated fisheries in the world. We are committed to working together to provide fresh, local, and sustainably harvested seafood while protecting our ocean environment, and the commercial fishing heritage of our families and community.
The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association is a fishermen led non-profit organization that identifies and fosters ways to restore the fisheries of the Gulf of Maine and sustain Maine’s iconic fishing communities for future generations. As stewards of the marine ecosystem, MCFA fishermen promote the ecological and financial sustainability of fisheries through balancing the needs of the current generation of fishermen with the long-term environmental restoration of the Gulf of Maine. MCFA works to achieve these goals through advocacy, education, outreach, and collaborative research projects.
The Morro Bay Community Quota Fund’s mission is to develop and enhance a financially and environmentally sustainable Morro Bay fishery, built upon local stewardship of ground fish resources and secured fishing rights anchored in the community.