The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (PCFFA) is by far the largest and most politically active trade association of commercial fishermen on the west coast. For nearly the last 30 years, we have been leading the industry in assuring the rights of individual fishermen and fighting for the long-term survival of commercial fishing as a productive livelihood and way of life.
As its lengthy name makes clear, PCFFA is an "umbrella" group made up of diverse associations all along the west coast. PCFFA is, in fact, a federation of many different port and fishermen's marketing associations with members spanning the US west coast from San Diego to Alaska.
More than any other fishery organization on the US west coast, PCFFA has come to embody the working family fisherman -- the working men and women operating their vessels to bring to America's -- and the world's -- table the ocean's bounty of fresh wild salmon, dungeness and rock crab, squid, herring, swordfish, shark, blackcod, rockfish, albacore, sea cucumber, California halibut and flounder, urchin and abalone. We are the small and medium sized family businesses, conducted from vessels fishing distant grounds to small, trailerable boats working nearshore waters. We are professionals who derive our incomes largely from harvesting the sea. Large or small vessel operator, full-time or part-time, we all share a common passion for this way of life, a dedication to its future, and a committment to a sustainable resource.
What PCFFA provides the individual fisherman is a vehicle to protect themselves and their industry, to assure the sustainable protection of the fragile resources we all depend upon, and a vehicle for empowerment. PCFFA provides fishermen a means to challenge and counter the dictates of big business or big government. PCFFA provides fishermen with a voice in their affairs, a say about their future.