CWPA seeks to achieve three major goals:
[1] Protect and maintain access to wetfish resources in California;
[2] Promote sustainable production of wetfish resources;
[3] Facilitate communication within and outside California’s wetfish industry
Membership in CWPA is open to all fishermen and processors who harvest and market Coastal Pelagic Species (wetfish) in CA, including anchovy, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, sardines and market squid, as well as other species harvested with roundhaul gear. Currently CWPA represents the majority of fishermen and processors who harvest and process coastal pelagic species in California.
The CWPA Board of Directors is structured to provide equitable representation for all participating membership categories in the three primary fishing regions: San Pedro, Pt. Hueneme/Ventura, and Monterey. Each region is represented by a processor member and alternate, and a fisherman member and alternate.
The corporation and Board structure comply with regulations established for non-profit business corporations, as set forth in the CWPA By-laws.
Key to all CWPA goals is developing accurate information on fishery resources, which will ultimately lead to improved fishery management decisions and facilitate cooperative management of wetfish fisheries in California.
*A principal objective is to sponsor a fishery research and data collection program utilizing fishermen for much of the work. View CWPA’s website research page to learn more about CWPA’s research program.
