Albacora

What Albacora does

Albacora S.A. is a privately held, family-owned Spanish tuna producer incorporated in 1974 and headquartered in Bermeo, Bizkaia. The company operates a vertically integrated supply chain covering tropical tuna capture, freezing at sea, processing, and canning. It runs a fleet of 18 purse seine vessels across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans targeting skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye, supported by three processing plants located in Bermeo and Galicia (Spain) and Ecuador. The firm sells frozen tuna B2B to canning companies and supplies certified canned tuna to retail brands under its own and partner labels.

Albacora's technology stack is purpose-built for responsible fishing at scale: satellite-linked Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), 100% observer coverage combining human observers with Electronic Monitoring, a triple-layer Vessel Monitoring System (EU VMS + RFMO VMS + private Albacora VMS with deck cameras), non-entangling FAD designs, and a fleet modernized over four decades to consume 67% less fuel than the world fleet average. All FADs are tracked via satellite, limiting fishing to designated zones and cutting carbon footprint. The company's go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-field-sales oriented: direct B2B supply to major Spanish canners (notably SALICA and Garavilla for the Campos and Isabel brands), private-label/retail brand supply, and direct engagement with coastal-state governments for fishing access agreements and quota allocations.

Revenue mechanics rest on three streams: (1) frozen tropical tuna sales to canning companies and seafood distributors, (2) canned/packaged tuna products sold via retail brands and distributors, and (3) by-product utilization (mahi-mahi, dorado, wahoo) sold locally at landing ports. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is conducted through direct contracts. The company holds the UNE 195006 APR AENOR 'Tuna from Responsible Fishing' certificate (since 2017), is on the ISSF Proactive Vessel Register, and is pursuing MSC certification via Lloyd's Register; it also operates under the sector's first collective bargaining agreement for non-EU crew (with ITF and UGT, signed 2015 and renewed annually). In June 2025, Albacora completed a merger by absorption of CONSIGNACIONES PUEBLA, S.L.U.

Name

Albacora

Legal name

Albacora S.A.

Website

https://albacora.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Albacora S.A. is a family-owned Spanish tuna producer, founded 1974 in Bermeo, operating 18 purse seine vessels across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and three processing plants in Spain and Ecuador to supply frozen and canned tropical tuna (skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye) to canning companies and retail brands under sustainability certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Canned Seafood (Tuna)

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710), Finfish Fishing (114111), Fishing (1141)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Canned & Shelf-Stable Seafood (Tuna, Sardines, Salmon, Retort Pouches) (AFANALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Canning & Retort Seafood (Shelf-Stable) (AFANADAD), Finfish Processing (Filleting, Portioning, Trimming) (AFANADAB), Fishing Vessels (Trawlers, Longliners, Purse Seiners) (IMAJADAE)

Keywords

• Tuna fishing operations
• Canned tuna production
• Frozen tuna supply
• Purse seine fishing
• Sustainable seafood

Headquarters

HQ city

Bermeo

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Frozen Tropical Tuna Sales: Albacora catches tropical tuna (skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye) in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, freezing it immediately after capture to maintain freshness and nutritional quality. The frozen tuna is sold to canning companies and international seafood distributors.
2. Canned/Packaged Tuna Products: Albacora controls the entire supply chain from catch to can. The company operates processing plants in Bermeo, Galicia, and Ecuador, producing canned tuna that is sold to retail brands and directly to consumers through distributors.
3. By-Product Utilization: By-catch species (such as dorado, mahi-mahi, and wahoo) caught alongside tuna are utilized as food on board the vessels and made available to local coastal communities at ports of landing, minimizing waste.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Albacora is a vertically integrated tropical tuna producer that catches skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna using 18 purse seine vessels across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, freezes the catch at sea, and processes it into canned tuna at its own plants in Bermeo, Galicia, and Ecuador. The company sells frozen tuna to canning companies and international seafood distributors, and supplies finished canned tuna to retail brands and food distributors under recognized sustainability certifications.

Product overview

Albacora operates as a vertically integrated tuna fishing and processing company offering a portfolio of three interconnected products: tuna fishing services using 18 purse seine vessels across three oceans, frozen tuna as the primary raw material, and canned tuna as the finished consumer product. The company controls the entire supply chain from capture to canning, with processing plants in Bermeo, Galicia, and Ecuador, enabling full traceability and quality control. The portfolio is unified under a sustainability-focused responsible fishing framework that differentiates Albacora's products through environmental and social certifications including AENOR APR and ongoing MSC certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canned Tuna Quality canned tuna produced from sustainably caught tropical tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye), traceable from sea to consumer, and processed at company-owned facilities in Bermeo (Spain), Galicia (Spain), and Ecuador. Sold to retail brands and food distributors.
• Frozen Tuna Freshly frozen tropical tuna (skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye) frozen immediately after capture to preserve quality and nutritional value, sold as raw material to canned tuna manufacturers and international seafood distributors.
• Tuna Fishing Services Commercial tropical tuna purse seine fishing operations across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans using 18 modern, fuel-efficient vessels, including fishery management, sustainability compliance, and full supply chain control.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% less fuel consumption than the global fleet average, reducing operational costs and carbon emissions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Lloyd's RegistermajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Lloyd's Register is the accredited conformity assessment body tasked with evaluating Albacora's fleet (as part of OPAGAC) against the MSC Fisheries Standard for MSC certification across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
• WWFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016WWF and OPAGAC (with Albacora as a member) entered into a 5-year Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) to improve sustainability and transparency of tropical tuna fisheries worldwide, with the goal of obtaining MSC certification for all OPAGAC catches.
• AENOR (Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2016AENOR developed and certifies compliance with the UNE 195006 'Tuna from Responsible Fishing' (APR) standard, a unique fisheries standard covering environmental, socioeconomic, and fisheries control pillars. Albacora was among the first fleet to obtain the APR certificate in July 2017, and AENOR later extended certification to the processing and distribution chain.
• Seychelles Fishing AuthoritiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016OPAGAC (including Albacora) signed an agreement with Seychelles fishing authorities to pilot an electronic monitoring system (EMS) aboard two purse seine vessels, extending transparency and sustainability monitoring in the Indian Ocean, with data analysis units installed at Seychelles Fisheries Authority.
• Curaçao GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Curaçao's Minister signed an agreement with Albacora for the progressive incorporation of Curaçaoan workers into the Albacora fleet, as part of Curaçao's admission as a full member of ICCAT.
• ITF (International Transport Workers Federation) and UGTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Albacora signed the first-ever collective bargaining agreement in the fishing sector for non-EU crew members with ITF and UGT in June 2015. This pioneering agreement regulates labor conditions for non-EU workers aboard Albacora vessels, exceeding ILO minimum standards and including clauses for union representation and assistance rights. The agreement was renewed annually from 2015 onwards.
• OPAGAC (Organización de Productores Asociados de Grandes Atuneros Congeladores)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlbacora is an active member of OPAGAC, the Spanish tuna purse seine association representing 8 companies and 40 vessels (approximately 6% of global tuna catch). OPAGAC coordinates sustainability initiatives including the Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) with WWF, the APR certification with AENOR, and represents member interests at international RFMO meetings.
• International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlbacora actively collaborates with ISSF on scientific research programs, best practices workshops, and sustainability audits. ISSF scientists conduct joint research trips aboard Albacora vessels, and Albacora is registered on the ISSF Proactive Vessel Register (PVR). The company participates in ISSF conservation measures including non-entangling FADs, shark finning prohibition, and FAD management policies.
• AZTI-TecnaliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZTI-Tecnalia is a leading marine research institute that provides scientific oversight, verification of best practices, and training to Albacora's fleet. AZTI scientists analyze FAD data, verify compliance with responsible fishing protocols, and conduct joint research on biodegradable FADs, bycatch mitigation, and tuna stock management. AZTI also receives FAD buoy data from Albacora for scientific purposes.
• Spanish Oceanographic Institute (Instituto Oceanográfico Español, IOE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Spanish Oceanographic Institute provides scientific training and research collaboration with Albacora's crews, contributing to continuous education on tuna stocks, regulatory requirements, and responsible fishing techniques.
• MRAG (Marine Resources Assessment Group)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMRAG is the independent audit company specializing in marine resources management that performs external audits of Albacora's fleet alongside ISSF, verifying compliance with sustainable fishing practices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Maruha Nichiro: Japan's largest seafood company operates global tuna sourcing and canned tuna production, making it a broad incumbent competitor to Albacora in tropical tuna markets and canned product distribution.
• Thai Union Group: Thai Union is the world's largest canned tuna producer (Chicken of the Sea, John West) and a major tuna buyer, making it both a downstream customer and the dominant incumbent competitor to Albacora across tropical tuna sourcing and canning.
• Dongwon Industries: South Korea's Dongwon is a major global tuna player (Starkist owner) operating purse seine fleets and canning facilities, directly comparable to Albacora in tropical tuna sourcing and canned tuna supply.
• Bolton Group: Italian-headquartered Bolton owns Rio Mare and other canned tuna/seafood brands and is a major European canned tuna incumbent, competing with Albacora-sourced tuna in retail channels.
• Princes Group (Mitsubishi Corporation): Princes is a major European canned and frozen seafood incumbent (including tuna), competing with Albacora-sourced tuna in retail private-label and branded channels across the UK and EU.

Direct peers

• Grupo Garavilla (Jealsa): Garavilla/Jealsa is a major Spanish canned seafood producer (Isabel, Campos brands) and a direct downstream customer of Albacora, making it both a customer relationship and a competitor in branded canned tuna.
• SAPMER: French tuna purse seine operator and frozen/canned tuna supplier active in the Indian Ocean, comparable to Albacora in fleet size, ocean coverage, and B2B supply to canneries.
• Conservas Calvo: Calvo is a Spanish vertically integrated canned tuna producer with its own fleet and processing, directly competing with Albacora in the Spanish and European canned tuna market, with similar target retailers and B2B customers.
• SALICA (Industrias Alimentarias de Navarra): SALICA is a major Spanish canned tuna producer (Campos, Isabel brands) and a key B2B customer of Albacora, representing both a strategic partnership and a directly comparable canned tuna competitor.
• Pêche et Froid / Groupe CFTO: French purse seine tuna fleet operator supplying frozen tuna to canneries in Europe and West Africa, directly comparable to Albacora in fleet operations, ocean coverage, and B2B canned-tuna customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/albacora-s-a-

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Albacora