North Atlantic Fishing Company

What North Atlantic Fishing Company does

North Atlantic Fishing Company Limited (NAFCO) is a UK-based, private limited fishing company founded in 1984 and operating as the UK arm of the Cornelis Vrolijk family of European fishing companies. The company operates a fleet of pelagic and demersal freezer trawlers — Northern Joy, Wiron 5, Wiron 6, and Frank Bonefaas — that fish year-round in UK and EU waters for four species: mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting, and herring. Catch is sorted, graded, and frozen at sea at -20°C aboard factory decks, then packaged and stowed in fish holds for export.

The technical platform centres on mid-water pelagic trawling using nets fitted with acoustic deterrents for marine mammals and electromagnetic devices for sharks, modern sonar and echo sounders for selective fish detection, Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) cameras and sensors (Frank Bonefaas was the first UK early adopter), electronic logbooks, and satellite communications for dynamic fleet management. Bycatch is reported at less than 1%, and mid-water trawling avoids seabed contact. Catch data is shared with Cefas scientists and the Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association to support ICES stock assessment.

NAFCO runs a B2B go-to-market selling frozen pelagic fish as a low-cost, low-carbon protein source into global wholesale and retail seafood markets. Approximately 90% of the catch is exported to developing nations outside the EU, with the remainder serving UK retail and wholesale channels (Waitrose being the only named buyer in the data). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company supports a workforce-development pipeline through partnerships with Fleetwood Nautical College, Hull Sea Cadets, Tall Ships Youth Trust, HETA, and Hull Trinity House Academy, and engages in UK consumer education about sustainable fishing.

Name

North Atlantic Fishing Company

Legal name

North Atlantic Fishing Company Ltd

Website

https://nafish.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

North Atlantic Fishing Company operates UK and EU-flagged pelagic freezer trawlers catching mackerel, herring, horse mackerel, and blue whiting, processing and freezing fish at sea for B2B export to global wholesale markets, primarily developing nations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wild-Caught Frozen Pelagic Seafood

NAICS

Other Marine Fishing (114119), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Freezing & Cold-Chain Seafood Processing (IQF, Blast Freezing, Glazing) (AFANADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD)

Keywords

• Pelagic freezer trawling
• Frozen seafood supply
• Wild-caught fish
• Sustainable commercial fishing
• Factory trawler operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Caterham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Frozen Pelagic Fish Sales: The company operates pelagic freezer trawler vessels fishing for mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting, and herring. They process and freeze the catch at sea and sell the frozen fish products to global markets. Approximately 90% is exported to developing nations outside the EU. The products provide essential, healthy, sustainable, low-CO2 and low cost food source.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North Atlantic Fishing Company operates factory freezer trawlers that catch, process, sort, grade and freeze wild-caught pelagic fish at sea. It supplies four species — mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting and herring — as a frozen, low-carbon, sustainable protein source to wholesale seafood markets, food processors and retailers in the UK, the EU and developing nations worldwide.

Product overview

North Atlantic Fishing Company operates a fleet of pelagic and demersal freezer trawler vessels that fish for four species: mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting, and herring. The company operates state-of-the-art factory freezer trawlers that catch, process, sort, grade, and freeze fish at sea. Their UK fleet includes Wiron 5, Wiron 6, Frank Bonefaas, and Northern Joy. They provide approximately 285 million nutritious meals annually to people worldwide, with around 90% of catch exported to developing nations. The company also pioneered Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) technology adoption, with Frank Bonefaas being the first early adopter vessel in English waters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Frozen Mackerel (wild-caught pelagic) Wild-caught mackerel (Scomber scombrus) caught by NAFCO's pelagic freezer trawlers, sorted, graded, frozen at -20°C on board and sold as frozen-at-sea blocks to wholesale seafood markets, food processors and retailers worldwide.
• Frozen Horse Mackerel (wild-caught pelagic) Wild-caught horse mackerel caught by NAFCO's pelagic freezer trawlers, processed and frozen at sea to -20°C and sold frozen-at-sea to wholesale seafood markets, food processors and retailers worldwide.
• Frozen Blue Whiting (wild-caught pelagic) Wild-caught blue whiting caught by NAFCO's pelagic freezer trawlers, processed and frozen at sea to -20°C and sold frozen-at-sea to wholesale seafood markets, food processors and retailers worldwide.
• Frozen Herring (wild-caught pelagic) Wild-caught herring caught by NAFCO's pelagic freezer trawlers, processed and frozen at sea to -20°C and sold frozen-at-sea to wholesale seafood markets, food processors and retailers worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 285 million nutritious meals provided annually to people worldwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fleetwood Nautical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Since 2021, NAFCO has partnered with Fleetwood Nautical College to support Cadets pursuing degrees to prepare for future careers as Marine Engineers or Deck Officers. Cadets have the opportunity to join vessels in full-time roles upon completing their studies. The company sponsors several students each year.
• Hull Sea CadetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Hull Sea Cadets since 2019, contributing to initiatives like the annual Welton Water camping and sailing trip. Provides young people with hands-on experience fostering connection to maritime careers. Currently sponsoring for the fourth consecutive year.
• Tall Ships Youth TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual sponsorship of cadets participating in Tall Ships Youth Trust sailing challenge. The Trust is a charitable organisation dedicated to developing young people aged 12 to 25 through sailing. NAFCO supports this annually as part of ambitions to inspire next generation of maritime professionals.
• Hull Trinity House AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing opportunities for young people to learn about and pursue maritime and fishing careers.
• Blackpool and Fylde Nautical CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting training and career development in maritime sector.
• Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFCO has invested in apprentices from HETA to help launch their seafaring careers.
• Cornelis Vrolijk FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Atlantic Fishing Company Limited is part of the global Cornelis Vrolijk family. The company operates closely with other companies within the family including Fishing Company Wirons Limited, Valiant Trawlers Limited, CVH Group, and Jaczon BV. The Cornelis Vrolijk family operates vessels including Carolien SCH-81, Afrika SCH-24, Zeeland SCH-123, Scombrus, and Prins Bernhard.
• Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association (PFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFCO is a proud UK member of the PFA. The PFA employs scientists to coordinate studies, contribute to ICES research, and participate in working groups. PFA signed MoU with Cefas to strengthen collaboration between pelagic fishing industry and scientific researchers.
• Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFCO shares catch data with Cefas scientists to improve data underpinning stock analysis. The company participates in government trials including REM technology. PFA signed MoU with Cefas for joint work on stock assessment, research, and data sharing.
• UK Government / DefracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFCO works with Defra as an 'Early Adopter' of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) technology. Frank Bonefaas was the first early adopter to trial REM in English waters as part of collaborative initiative with UK government. Company operates within fisheries management measures set by UK government.
• Hull Maritime CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The People's Fish Project - a photography exhibition recognising and celebrating Hull's fishing heritage.
• Hull City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The People's Fish Project photography exhibition.
• Hull Culture & LeisureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The People's Fish Project photography exhibition.
• The Lottery Heritage FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The People's Fish Project photography exhibition.
• France Pelagique SarlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornelis Vrolijk family operates pelagic fishing trawlers Scombrus and Prins Bernhard FC-716900 out of France Pelagique Sarl.
• Jaczon BVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornelis Vrolijk family operates pelagic fishing trawlers Afrika SCH-24 and Zeeland SCH-123 out of Jaczon BV.
• Fishing Company Wirons LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFCO operates pelagic fishing trawlers Wiron 6 SCH-23 and Wiron 5 H1100 out of Fishing Company Wirons Limited.
• Valiant Trawlers LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAFCO operates demersal fishing trawler Northern Joy H-225 out of Valiant Trawlers Limited.
• CVH GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornelis Vrolijk family operates pelagic fishing trawler Carolien SCH-81 out of CVH Group.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mowi ASA: Mowi is the world's largest Atlantic salmon producer with significant wild-catch and value-added seafood operations. While salmon-led, its broader seafood business overlaps with NAFCO in secondary processing, cold-chain freezing, and global B2B seafood distribution.
• Austevoll Seafood ASA: Austevoll Seafood is the listed parent of Havfisk (Norwegian pelagic and demersal trawlers, including NZ and Norwegian quota) and Pelagia. Through Pelagia and Havfisk it is a particularly close comp: pelagic freezer trawling, mackerel/herring/blue whiting quota exposure, and freezer-trawler/vessel operating model.
• Maruha Nichiro Corporation: Maruha Nichiro is one of Japan's largest seafood companies, integrating wild-catch (including North Pacific and Indian Ocean tuna pelagic operations), aquaculture, processing, and global distribution. Comparable to NAFCO in freezer-trawler fishing, pelagic species focus, and worldwide B2B marketing.
• Thai Union Group PCL: Thai Union is a global seafood conglomerate with leading positions in tuna, shelf-stable seafood, and frozen/fresh products. Comparable to NAFCO in B2B scale, frozen seafood distribution, and developing-nation protein exposure (esp. Africa/Asia), though skewed to tuna and aquaculture rather than wild pelagic.
• Lerøy Seafood Group ASA: Lerøy is a large Norwegian seafood group spanning wild-catch pelagic operations through its historical Havfisk business, plus aquaculture and processing. It overlaps with NAFCO on pelagic wild-catch harvesting, freezing, and global distribution, while operating on a much larger, vertically integrated scale.
• Royal Greenland A/S: Royal Greenland harvests, processes and markets a wide range of wild-caught seafood (cod, shrimp, Greenland halibut, pelagic species) across the North Atlantic. Like NAFCO it is a wild-catch-led operator with on-shore and at-sea processing and significant B2B/wholesale seafood trade.
• Nissui (Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.): Nissui is a major Japanese seafood company combining wild-caught fisheries (surimi, pelagic species), aquaculture, and processed/frozen foods distribution globally. Overlaps with NAFCO in freezer-trawler fishing for human-consumption pelagic species and global wholesale seafood trade.

Direct peers

• Pelagia AS: Pelagia is a Norwegian/Danish processor and supplier of pelagic fish (mackerel, herring, blue whiting, capelin, sandeel) for human consumption and fishmeal/feed. It is the closest direct comparability match to NAFCO: same target species, similar factory/freezer operations, similar global wholesale distribution model, and a similar catching/processing split.
• HB Grandi hf: HB Grandi is one of Iceland's largest fishing companies, operating a fleet of freezer trawlers and wet-fish vessels across cod, redfish, and pelagic species. The combination of factory freezer trawlers and wild-catch North Atlantic pelagic exposure makes it highly comparable to NAFCO's operating model.

Regional players

• Highliner Foods Inc. Highliner Foods is North America's largest frozen seafood company, sourcing wild-caught species (including Atlantic and Pacific pelagics) and distributing prepared/frozen products into retail and foodservice. Comparable to NAFCO in frozen seafood sourcing, B2B/wholesale distribution, and exposure to retailer sustainability sourcing demands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/north-atlantic-fishing-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 North Atlantic Fishing Company