What MRAG Americas does

MRAG Americas is a private consulting and auditing company founded in 1996 and headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, with three additional US offices in Danvers (MA), Seattle (WA), and Anchorage (AK). It is the Americas arm of the broader MRAG family of companies (alongside MRAG Ltd in the UK and MRAG Asia Pacific) and provides professional services supporting the conservation of marine and freshwater ecosystems through sustainable use of aquatic resources. The firm operates four Client Service Divisions: the Fisheries Technical Division (scientific research, policy support, ecosystem-based management), the Certification Division (accredited third-party audits against MSC, ASC, CSI, and FISH standards plus Fishery Improvement Projects), the Seafood Sustainability Initiatives and Auditing Division (SSIAD) (supply chain risk assessments, traceability exercises, ISSF PVR audits), and the Fisheries Monitoring Division (observer programs and Electronic Monitoring). Underlying capabilities include a staff of PhD-level fisheries scientists, decades of operational data from observer deployments (over 18,000 NEFOP days; 2,200+ IATTC days per year), and CAB accreditation across multiple sustainability schemes.

The firm's revenue model is professional services-based, with no public pricing. It generates revenue through assessment fees for fisheries certification and Chain of Custody audits (multi-year fishery contracts plus annual CoC surveillance), managed-service fees from government observer program contracts (NOAA/NMFS, IATTC, ADF&G, NAFO), and project-based consulting for international organizations (World Bank, GEF, FAO, RFMOs), NGOs, foundations, and industry trade associations. GTM motion is enterprise field sales: Division Directors and senior scientists engage directly with government procurement processes and enterprise supply-chain buyers (Amazon, McDonald's US/Canada, Loblaw, Holland America Line), supported by industry conference presence (Seafood Expo North America, triennial Aquaculture conference) and thought leadership through publications and LinkedIn. Geographic reach spans 60+ countries, though operational density is highest in the Americas and key Pacific fisheries.

Name

MRAG Americas

Legal name

MRAG Americas, Inc.

Website

https://mragamericas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MRAG Americas is a private fisheries consulting and auditing firm, founded in 1996 and headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, providing accredited certification (MSC, ASC, CSI, FISH), observer program management, and technical consulting to government agencies, seafood industry, and NGOs across the Americas and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fisheries Certification Services: Independent audits of commercial fisheries and supply chains against third-party sustainability standards including Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM)/Certified Seafood International (CSI), and FISH Standard for Crew. Revenue generated through assessment fees for pre-assessments, full assessments, surveillance audits, and certification decisions.
2. Seafood Sustainability Consulting: Expert advice and support for seafood sustainability programs and initiatives including independent auditing and verification of sustainability and responsible sourcing claims for private and public sector clients. Services include internal audits, policy development, risk analyses, and traceability exercises.
3. Fisheries Monitoring Services: Observer program operations and electronic monitoring services. MRAG manages global observer programs including IATTC Tuna Transshipment Observer Program, ADF&G Shellfish Fishery Observer Program, and various US domestic observer programs. Revenue from government contracts and industry-funded monitoring programs.
4. Fisheries Technical Consulting: Technical and scientific consulting services including policy development, management assessment, ecosystem analysis, protected resources evaluation, and scientific capacity building for government agencies, NGOs, and industry groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MRAG Americas is an independent consulting and auditing company that delivers third-party fishery and supply chain certification, observer program management, electronic monitoring, and scientific technical consulting to support responsible and sustainable use of marine and freshwater resources. Its work is organized across four Client Service Divisions (Fisheries Technical, Certification, Seafood Sustainability Initiatives and Auditing, and Fisheries Monitoring) and is delivered to government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, foundations, and seafood industry clients across the Americas.

Product overview

MRAG Americas operates as a private consulting and auditing company organized into four Client Service Divisions: the Fisheries Technical Division (scientific research and policy support), the Certification Division (third-party certification against MSC, CSI, and FISH standards), the Seafood Sustainability Initiatives and Auditing Division (SSIAD, for non-certified sustainability programs and traceability), and the Fisheries Monitoring Division (observer programs and electronic monitoring). The company offers fishery certification, chain of custody certification, Fishery Improvement Projects, ISSF audits, supply chain traceability exercises, and operates observer programs including the IATTC Tuna Transshipment Observer Program and ADF&G Shellfish Observer Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Certification Division: Conducts all accredited third party certification activities including MSC, CSI, and FISH assessments
• Seafood Sustainability Initiatives and Auditing Division (SSIAD)
• Fisheries Monitoring Division
• Fisheries Technical Division

Products and services

• MSC Fishery Certification
• CSI Fishery Certification
• FISH Standard for Crew Certification
• Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification
• Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs)
• ISSF Proactive Vessel Register (PVR) Audits
• Seafood Traceability Exercises
• IATTC Tuna Transshipment Observer Program
• ADF&G Shellfish Fishery Observer Program
• Electronic Monitoring (EM) Services
• Fisheries Technical Consulting
• Supply Chain Risk Assessment and Verification

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% in-assessment clients have achieved certification goals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tuna ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Seafood industry stakeholders led by NGO Tuna Forum, with verification guidance from MRAG Americas, developed the Market Commitment Evaluation Framework to harmonize sustainability and worker rights metrics across the industry. The framework aims to reduce complexity in data collection and reporting, lower costs, and enable consistent third-party verification of company commitments.
• IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009MRAG Americas has been implementing the IATTC Regional Observer Program (ROP) since its inception in January 2009. The ROP monitors transshipments at sea from Large Scale Longline Tuna Vessels (LSLTVs) in the Convention Area. MRAG manages all aspects including recruiting, training, deployment, debriefing, and data collection.
• ADF&G (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005MRAG Americas has been a certified contractor for the ADF&G Shellfish Observer Program since 2005, covering crab fisheries in Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea regions.
• NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRAG Americas is working on a new project with NAFO, the RFMO responsible for ensuring long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources in the northwest Atlantic. This work will result in a fully documented description of all methodologies being used for estimating tow catches by vessel skippers, NAFO compliance Observers, Scientific Observers and NAFO At-Sea Inspectors, together with development of common best practices.
• MRAG Ltd (Sister Company)coreOthersMRAG Americas is part of the family of MRAG companies that includes MRAG Ltd (UK-based) and MRAG Asia Pacific. Collaborating on NAFO project with sister companies MRAG Ltd and MRAG Asia Pacific.
• MRAG Asia Pacific (Sister Company)coreOthersPart of MRAG family of companies - MRAG Americas collaborates with MRAG Asia Pacific on international projects including NAFO.
• MSC (Marine Stewardship Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRAG Americas is an accredited Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) of the Marine Stewardship Council certification scheme. Conducts independent assessments of fisheries against MSC's Standard for well managed and sustainable fisheries.
• ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRAG Americas is an accredited CAB for ASC Chain of Custody certification, evaluating CoC clients including aquaculture supply chains.
• CSI (Certified Seafood International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRAG Americas is an accredited CAB for CSI (formerly RFM) certification scheme. Undertakes assessments of fisheries for compliance with CSI Standard for well managed and sustainably harvested seafood.
• ISSF (International Seafood Sustainability Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSIAD conducts independent audits for ISSF and vessels listed on the ISSF Proactive Vessel Register (PVR). ISSF audit reports are available on their website for participating companies.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRAG Americas helped WWF develop guidance for traceability in Fishery Improvement Projects. Oleg Martens previously worked at WWF as Senior Programs Officer advancing Market Transformation Initiative.
• NOAA/NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for various observer programs including NE At Sea Monitoring (ASM) Program since 2010, and technical consulting on fisheries policy and management. NMFS awards multi-year contracts for observer program operations.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Electronic Monitoring implementation in New England - The Nature Conservancy worked closely with NMFS staff and MRAG comparing electronic monitoring results with human observers coverage.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DNV: International certification and assurance provider with seafood supply chain and aquaculture certification offerings. Provides Chain of Custody audits for MSC and other schemes, and competes with MRAG Americas for the largest enterprise seafood certification mandates.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant with a sustainability and fisheries practice offering MSC and Chain of Custody assessments as part of a much broader assurance portfolio. Competes for the same enterprise certification RFPs as MRAG Americas but with significantly greater geographic scale and pricing flexibility.
• SAI Global: Assurance and certification provider offering food, agriculture, and supply chain certifications including seafood sustainability standards. Operates as a broad incumbent competing for CoC and supply chain audit work with MRAG Americas' seafood clients.

Direct peers

• SCS Global Services: Independent third-party certification body offering sustainability certifications across food, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry — including MSC fisheries and Chain of Custody assessments. Direct competitor for seafood sustainability certification work and overlapping client base among North American seafood processors and retailers.
• Control Union: Global certification company accredited to certify against MSC, ASC, and other seafood sustainability schemes, with extensive Chain of Custody auditing capacity. Directly competes with MRAG Americas on fisheries and aquaculture certification assignments and on retailer-led supply chain audits.
• MRAG Ltd: UK-based sister company providing the same suite of fisheries consulting, certification, and observer program services across Europe, Africa, and international waters. Operates as a direct peer under shared corporate-family ownership and routinely collaborates with MRAG Americas on multi-region projects (e.g., NAFO).

Emerging players

• FishWise: Non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy working with retailers and suppliers on responsible sourcing, traceability, and improvement projects. Comparable in mission and customer segment (seafood retailers and suppliers) but focused on advisory rather than third-party certification.
• Archipelago Marine Research: Provider of electronic monitoring (EM) services and at-sea observer programs for fisheries, partnering with MRAG Americas on New England groundfish EM pilots. Competes for adjacent monitoring contracts but typically partners rather than competes for full observer program operations.
• Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management: Independent consultancy providing fisheries science, stock assessment, and sustainability advisory services to governments, RFMOs, and the seafood industry. Comparable in target client base (governments, RFMOs, NGOs) and in scientific consulting scope, but does not hold CAB accreditation for major certification schemes.

Others

• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership: Non-profit organization that designs and supports Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) and engages directly with seafood companies on sustainable sourcing. Not a direct competitor but operates in the same buyer-supplier ecosystem for FIP-related advisory work that overlaps with MRAG Americas' portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mrag-americas-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about MRAG Americas