What Zunibal does

Zunibal S.L. is a Spanish marine technology company founded in 1995 in Derio (Bizkaia), that develops and manufactures electronic systems for sustainable commercial fishing, with a primary focus on industrial tuna purse seine fleets. The company's core offering centers on eco-designed satellite buoys (Tuna8 Explorer, performing 1,440 soundings per day), the Zunisea Controller fleet management platform, Fortuna Charts oceanographic mapping, Zunfloat floating platforms, and ZuniSOS rescue/emergency equipment, all enabled by proprietary Certus satellite communication systems. Underlying these products are AI/ML-driven decision support systems trained on 30 years of proprietary oceanographic data that provide fishing recommendations on temperature, plankton, salinity, altimetry, and historical catch patterns. Recent product expansion includes a biodegradable Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) platform made from PBS bio-based material certified under ISO 19679.

The company operates a hybrid hardware-plus-software B2B business model. It sells buoy hardware, floating platforms, and satellite communications equipment directly through specialist fishing-sector consultants and an international distributor network spanning 45+ countries, with permanent inventory maintained at strategic ports worldwide and 24/7/365 technical support. Software platforms (Fortuna Charts, Zunisea Controller) and ongoing technical support represent recurring revenue components alongside one-time hardware sales. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; solutions are quote-based and customized per client. Strategic acquisitions over the past 30 months — Cambrian Intelligence (AI/data analytics, minority stake October 2023), Zong Hong Marine/Zunibal Asia (satellite communications, April 2025), and Echoview (hydroacoustic analytics, September 2025) — extend the technology stack from hardware into software-defined fishing intelligence.

Zunibal is majority-owned by Spanish mid-market private equity firm Nazca Capital since 2021, with Swiss impact investor Blue Earth Capital AG joining through a continuation fund announced in April 2026. The company reported €12.5 million in EBITDA and 120 employees as of April 2026, with headquarters in Derio (Spain) and Asia operations in Kaohsiung (Taiwan). Zunibal operates within an oligopoly of three manufacturers — together with Marine Instruments and Satlink — responsible for over 95% of the world's smart satellite buoys, and holds certifications including ISO 9001, 14001, 14006 (ecodesign, first in sector), 27001, Zero Waste, and Carbon Footprint registration.

Name

Zunibal

Legal name

ZUNIBAL S.L.

Website

https://zunibal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Zunibal is a Spanish marine technology company that designs eco-designed satellite buoys, AI-driven fishing intelligence platforms, and satellite communications equipment for sustainable commercial fishing fleets across 45+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Technology Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Fishing Electronics & Marine Tech Retail (Fishfinders, GPS, Sonar) (CRAMALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture & Fisheries Operations (EDAOAOAK), Fishing Vessels (Trawlers, Longliners, Purse Seiners) (IMAJADAE)

Keywords

• Satellite buoys
• Tuna fishing technology
• Marine electronics
• Fishing fleet monitoring
• Oceanographic data systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Derio

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Satellite Buoy Hardware Sales: Sale of eco-designed satellite buoys (Tuna8 Explorer, Zunfloat) and electronic monitoring equipment for tuna fishing fleets.
2. Software and Platform Subscriptions: Software platforms such as Zunisea Controller and Fortuna Charts providing ongoing decision-support services to fishing fleets, likely with subscription or recurring service components.
3. Technical Support and Logistics Services: 24/7 technical support, logistics services, SAT (Technical Assistance Service) at ports worldwide, and permanent stock at strategic ports globally.
4. Satellite Communication Equipment: Sale of satellite communication equipment including Certus satellite communications systems for marine environments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zunibal fundamentally designs, manufactures, and sells eco-designed satellite buoys and complementary AI-driven software platforms (Zunisea Controller, Fortuna Charts) for industrial tuna fishing fleets. Its integrated offering combines hardware buoys, satellite communications (Certus), biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), and oceanographic data analytics to help commercial fishing companies optimize catch efficiency while reducing environmental impact.

Product overview

Zunibal is a marine technology and ocean intelligence company offering an integrated portfolio of satellite buoys, oceanographic monitoring systems, and AI-powered software solutions for sustainable fishing. The core product line centers on the Tuna8 Explorer satellite buoy, Zunisea Controller management platform, Fortuna Charts mapping system, and Zunfloat floating platforms, all supported by Certus satellite communication equipment. The company has expanded through strategic acquisitions including Echoview (hydroacoustic software), Zunibal Asia (satellite communications), and Cambrian Intelligence (AI/data analytics), creating a comprehensive ecosystem for tuna fishing optimization, species discrimination, and marine monitoring. Solutions span tuna fishing, longline fishing, localization/monitoring, oceanography, rescue/emergency, and electronic monitoring, unified by AI-driven analytics and ecodesign principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tuna8 Explorer (eco-designed satellite buoy) Eco-designed satellite buoy performing 1,440 soundings per day (sounds every minute and 24 automatic soundings every day), with satellite communication for real-time data transmission. Designed for industrial tuna purse-seine fleets to optimize sustainable tuna fishing.
• Fortuna Charts Oceanographic map software displaying temperature, plankton, salinity, altimetry, HotTunaPoints, and other oceanographic data layers to inform tuna fishing decisions.
• Zunisea Controller Integral management tool that optimizes and facilitates tuna fishing operations; a fully autonomous unit offering full control of buoys and fishing tools without need for alternative equipment, supporting fleet tracking and emergency coordination.
• Zunfloat (eco-designed floating platform) Eco-designed floating platform for tuna fishing that is resistant, withstands impacts, and is friendlier to the marine environment than predecessors; used as FAD platform for tuna fishing fleets.
• Certus satellite communication equipment Satellite communication equipment product line for maritime applications, enabling reliable data transmission from buoys and vessels (including Iridium/Certus technologies).
• ZuniSOS (rescue and emergency buoy) Rescue and emergency buoy solution providing emergency alerting and rescue coordination for maritime safety; enables real-time fleet tracking and emergency response (evidenced by the Sea Gem vessel rescue 2,500 miles offshore).
• Biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) platform Biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) made entirely from PBS bio-based material certified biodegradable in marine environments under ISO 19679 standard by Japan BioPlastics Association; sinks and naturally biodegrades on the seabed if lost, meeting RFMO regulatory requirements.
• Hydroacoustic analysis software (Echoview product line) Hydroacoustic analysis software for marine technology applications, acquired through Echoview (Tasmania, Australia); used worldwide for analyzing acoustic data from echosounders in fisheries and marine research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced unwanted catches compared to unassisted fishing
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AZTIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration with AZTI (technology center) on sustainable fishing R&D. Jointly developed biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) with PBS bio-based material certified under ISO 19679. Conducted real and semi-controlled trials in Atlantic and Indian Oceans with support from CIAT and European tuna fleets.
• European Union (Horizon 2020)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU funding through Horizon 2020 program. Zunibal participates as smart sensor developer and solution integrator in the MooringSense project (Grant Agreement No. 851703), developing risk-based integrity management for offshore mooring systems using GNSS technology, numerical modeling, and machine learning.
• European Union (FP7 / Horizon 2020)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMARTFISH project (Grant No. 773521, H2020-SFS-2016-2017) develops high-tech systems for EU fisheries using AI, machine learning, computer vision, acoustic technology, and ROV tech to optimize fishing efficiency, improve stock assessment, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• European Union (FP7 OCEAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBYEFOULING project (Grant No. 612717, FP7-OCEAN-2013) focused on designing, developing, and improving eco-friendly antifouling coatings for marine applications, including satellite buoys, ships, and aquaculture installations.
• Marine Instruments and SatlinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe three principal global manufacturers of smart satellite buoys, together manufacturing over 95% of the world's smart buoys. Signed a landmark joint declaration for sustainable echosounder buoy stewardship with three shared action areas: prevention, recovery, and circularity. Jointly published 'Smart Buoys and Sustainable Tuna Fisheries' — a technical publication for fishing companies, scientists, and fisheries management bodies.
• Zong Hong Marine (Zunibal Asia)coreTechnology or IntegrationAcquired in April 2025, Zong Hong Marine is a Taiwanese company that became Zunibal Asia with operational headquarters in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Strengthens Zunibal's positioning in satellite communications and Asian market presence.
• EchoviewcoreTechnology or IntegrationAcquired in September 2025, Echoview is headquartered in Tasmania, Australia, and is the global benchmark in hydroacoustic analysis software. The acquisition significantly expands Zunibal's technology portfolio and strengthens its strategic positioning in sustainable marine technology development.
• Japan BioPlastics Association (JBPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJBPA certified Zunibal's PBS bio-based material as biodegradable in marine environments under ISO 19679 standard. JBPA is a leading organization in the promotion and certification of biodegradable and bio-based polymers, established in 1989.
• Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (CIAT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CIAT for deployment of biodegradable FADs in semi-controlled environments (Laboratory Achotines in Panama) and real ocean conditions, supporting sustainable tuna fisheries research.
• Fundación Athletic ClubminorOthersZunibal became a Strategic Partner of the Athletic Club Foundation, reinforcing its connection to the Basque community. Both entities share values of local talent development, teamwork, community, and sustainability.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Satlink: Spanish satellite technology company specializing in echosounder buoys and fisheries electronics; named the third principal global smart buoy manufacturer alongside Zunibal and Marine Instruments.
• Marine Instruments: Spanish-headquartered manufacturer of satellite buoys and oceanographic equipment for tuna fishing, explicitly named alongside Zunibal as one of three firms controlling 95%+ of the global smart buoy market.

Broad incumbents

• Furuno Electric: Japanese marine electronics leader producing fishfinders, sonars, and navigation equipment for commercial fishing fleets globally; overlaps with Zunibal's echosounder/sonar capabilities at much greater scale and broader product portfolio.
• Garmin Marine: Marine electronics division of Garmin offering chartplotters, sonars, and GPS for commercial and recreational fishing; relevant adjacent competitor in marine electronics serving fishing fleets.
• Navico (Brunswick): Marine electronics group (Simrad, Lowrance, B&G) owned by Brunswick; comparable to Zunibal in fishfinding/sonar technology but serves broader recreational and commercial markets.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian marine technology incumbent delivering sonar, acoustic, and subsea instrumentation — directly comparable to Zunibal's hydroacoustic and ocean-monitoring stack at significantly larger scale and broader maritime exposure.

Emerging players

• Saildrone: US-based developer of uncrewed surface vehicles for ocean data collection; overlapping adjacent technology to Zunibal's autonomous satellite buoy fleet in oceanographic data acquisition.
• ThayerMahan: US-based autonomous maritime systems and acoustic sensing company; emerging peer with overlapping hydroacoustic and ocean-monitoring capabilities relevant to Zunibal's expanded Echoview portfolio.
• Sofar Ocean: US-based startup building smart ocean sensors and buoys with AI-driven marine intelligence; a more software/emerging competitor to Zunibal's buoy-plus-AI ocean intelligence stack.

Others

• CLS Group: French satellite-based data collection and location services (ARGOS, fisheries monitoring); ecosystem partner/comparable to Zunibal's satellite comms and ocean intelligence offerings rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nazca-capital
• Xx.com/Zunibal_SL

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zunibal