The primary mission of Blue Water Fishermen’s Association is to protect access to the highest sustainable level of swordfish, tunas, and other highly migratory species caught by the American commercial fleet and regulated by the United States (NOAA Fisheries/NMFS) and international forums such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

In pursuit of our mission, BWFA’s elected Board of Directors and its Executive Committee oversee operations and provide direction to our professional staff, which includes an Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, Legislative Consultant, Financial Administrator, and ad hoc legal counsel. BWFA’s staff participates in regular and special government meetings concerning domestic and international management regulations and maintains good working relationships with officials from all levels of government, including Congressional offices and fishery management agencies.

Since 1990, BWFA has offered our fishery the opportunity to be much better informed about potential threats to our fisheries and our way of life. BWFA members have the advantage of being "in the loop" and "in the know" concerning pertinent issues and being part of a unified professional organization dedicated to efforts to control our future.

Membership Application

Membership dues are $500 and are billed on a calendar year basis. New members joining mid-year may have their initial dues pro-rated as described below. Because BWFA engages in legislative lobbying, 15% of your membership dues are not tax deductible as a business expense.  Consult your tax advisor for more information.

To join BWFA, please click here to download the membership application.

How Initial Dues Are Computed

BWFA’s membership dues are $500 per calendar year and are due on January 1 of each year.

New members who join BWFA mid-year may have their initial dues pro-rated as follows:

1. If you refer to the following table before you join, you can pay the pro-rated dues listed below to cover your dues for the initial year.
2. If you send the full $500 annual dues, then your dues will be pro-rated by month as listed below and the additional amount you paid will be applied to BWFA’s Highliners Contribution Program.

Initial Year Dues Assessment Table

This method only applies to a new member in their initial dues period. Renewing members are always extended one year from their current expiration date regardless of when during the year they renew.

It is hoped that this explanation and method provides transparency and fairness to new members. However, if you have any questions about this policy or your dues, please contact Benjamin Beideman, BWFA Assistant Executive Director, by phone at 609-891-8672 or by email at ben@bwfa-usa.org.