What Nitto Seimo does

Nitto Seimo Co., Ltd. (日東製網株式会社) is a Japan-based, publicly listed (Tokyo Stock Exchange, ticker 3524) fishing net manufacturer founded in 1936 with over 110 years of operational history. The company designs, produces, and sells made-to-order fishing gear across six core categories: trap nets (定置網), purse seine nets (旋網), fish farming/aquaculture nets (養殖網), trawl nets (底曳網), laver cultivation nets (海苔網), and onshore/industrial net products (陸上関連). Sales representatives visit fishing ports directly to propose net specifications tailored to target species, ocean conditions, and customer requirements, while for aquaculture clients the company provides full operational support including farm site selection, facility design, breeding methodology, feed/disease guidance, and ongoing maintenance.

The company operates a domestic-dominant footprint with its main headquarters and factory in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, a Tokyo sales office for eastern Japan, and additional sales/production sites in Takaoka, Hakodate, Abashiri, Sapporo, and Ishinomaki. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of customized fishing nets and aquaculture equipment to commercial fishing operators and fish farming businesses, supplemented by a small onshore products line (sports/industrial nets) and a sustainability-focused upcycled consumer goods line ('THE FISHING NET BAG') distributed via Kickstarter. International reach is concentrated on Southeast Asia via a long-running partnership with Indonesian aquaculture operator PT.LUCKY (since 2003). In 2024, the company experienced a third-party ransomware cyberattack that delayed quarterly financial reporting and required extension filings.

In parallel with its core manufacturing business, Nitto Seimo has built an industry-first 'Fishing Net to Fishing Net Recycling' program (launched November 2022, expanded to polyester nets in September 2025) addressing marine plastic pollution and supporting Japan's circular economy agenda. The company has earned public recognition including the 2023 Nikkei New Office Award (Chugoku region) for its Fukuyama headquarters and a 2025 Imperial Decoration of Azure Ribbon (紺綬褒章) from the Japanese Government for disaster relief support to Himi City, Toyama Prefecture.

Name

Nitto Seimo

Legal name

日東製網株式会社 (NITTO SEIMO CO.,LTD.)

Website

https://nittoseimo.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Nitto Seimo Co., Ltd. is a Japan-based, publicly listed manufacturer of customized fishing nets — including trap, purse seine, aquaculture, trawl, and laver cultivation nets — serving commercial fishing operators and fish farming businesses across Japan and select Southeast Asian markets through direct field sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Fishing Nets and Aquaculture Equipment

NAICS

Aquaculture (1125)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aquaculture & Fish-Farm Service Vessels (Feed, Wellboats, Harvest Support) (IMAJADAF)

Keywords

• Fishing net manufacturing
• Aquaculture equipment
• Commercial fishing gear
• Fish farming nets
• Marine cultivation supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Shimbashi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fishing Net Sales: Sale of customized fishing nets and fishing equipment to commercial fishing operations and aquaculture businesses
2. Aquaculture Equipment Sales: Sale of fish farming nets, related materials, and equipment to aquaculture operators
3. Onshore Business: Non-fishing net products including sports nets and other net-related products

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Nitto Seimo manufactures and sells customized fishing nets and aquaculture equipment for commercial fishing operations and aquaculture businesses. Its core portfolio covers six net categories — trap nets, purse seine nets, fish farming nets, trawl nets, laver cultivation nets, and onshore/industrial net products (including sports and safety nets) — all made to order based on target species, ocean conditions, and customer requirements. The company also provides comprehensive aquaculture business support (farm site selection, facility design, breeding methods, feed management, disease prevention, and ongoing maintenance) and operates an industry-first "Fishing Net to Fishing Net Recycling" circular program.

Product overview

Nitto Seimo is a comprehensive fishing net manufacturer offering an integrated portfolio of fishing gear products. The core product line includes six main net categories: Trap Nets (定置網) for fixed net fishing, Purse Seine Nets (旋網) for surface fishing, Fish Farming Nets (養殖網) including fish cage nets (生簀網) for aquaculture, Trawl Nets (底曳網) for bottom fishing, Laver Cultivation Nets (海苔網) for nori farming, and Onshore Business (陸上関連) products including sports nets. Beyond manufacturing, the company provides complete aquaculture business support including farm design, facility installation, and ongoing technical assistance. The company has also expanded into sustainability initiatives through its industry-first 'Fishing Net to Fishing Net Recycling' program and upcycled products like THE FISHING NET BAG.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trap Nets (定置網) Fixed net systems (定置網) for trap fishing that capture fish by directing them into an enclosed area; custom-designed for specific fishing grounds and target species, used by commercial fishing operators.
• Purse Seine Nets (旋網) Large encircling nets (旋網) used in purse seine fishing operations to capture schools of fish near the surface by closing the bottom of the net with a pursing wire; sold to commercial fishing operators.
• Fish Farming Nets (養殖網) Aquaculture nets including fish cage nets (生簀網) for fish farming operations, designed for durability in marine environments and customization to different species and farming conditions; sold to aquaculture operators.
• Trawl Nets (底曳網) Bottom trawl nets (底曳網) designed for seabed fishing operations, built with heavy-duty materials to withstand harsh underwater conditions; sold to commercial fishing operators.
• Laver Cultivation Nets (海苔網) Nets (海苔網) designed for nori/seaweed cultivation, supporting production of marine vegetables in coastal farming operations; sold to seaweed farmers and coastal cooperatives.
• Onshore Business Nets (陸上関連) Land-based net products including sports nets (such as baseball and golf nets), safety nets, and industrial nets for various non-marine applications; sold to sports facilities, schools, and industrial buyers.
• THE FISHING NET BAG Upcycled mesh bag products manufactured from recycled fishing nets, representing the company's circular-economy and marine plastic waste reduction initiatives; sold to consumers via Kickstarter and related channels.
• Fishing Net to Fishing Net Recycling (漁網 to 漁網リサイクル) Recycling service/program that converts discarded fishing nets into new fishing net products, promoting a circular fishing industry and addressing marine plastic pollution; offered to fishing operators and partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nets maintaining good quality for 20+ years with proper maintenance (PT.LUCKY case)

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PT.LUCKYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Long-term strategic partnership established in 2003 for aquaculture development in Indonesia. Nitto Seimo provides not only fishing equipment but comprehensive business support including farm site selection, facility design, breeding techniques, feed management, disease prevention, and ongoing maintenance for 10 years. Supported the company's transition from tuna processing to aquaculture, enabling success with Marcoban and Baramundi cultivation. Nets have maintained quality for over 20 years.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Japanese industrial conglomerate with marine and industrial fiber products. Compares to Nitto Seimo as a large Japanese industrial manufacturer serving marine and industrial end-markets.
• AKVA Group: Norwegian global supplier of aquaculture technology and equipment including fish farm nets, cages, and feeding systems. Comparable aquaculture equipment offering but with much broader technology/software portfolio.

Emerging players

• Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group: Global manufacturer of ropes including fishing and marine ropes. Comparable in serving commercial fishing customers but focused on ropes rather than nets.
• Steinsvik (AKVA Group): Norwegian supplier of aquaculture equipment, nets, and feeding technology. Overlaps with Nitto Seimo's aquaculture nets business and complements AKVA Group's offerings.

Direct peers

• Garware Technical Fibres: India-based technical textile manufacturer specializing in fishing nets, aquaculture nets, and sports nets. Comparable products across fishing and aquaculture with strong Asian market exposure.
• Badinotti Group: Italy/Norway-headquartered global fishing net and aquaculture cage manufacturer. Closest international peer with similar product portfolio (fishing nets, fish farming cages) and global aquaculture exposure.
• Momoi Fishing Net Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Japanese fishing net manufacturer producing nets and ropes for commercial fishing and aquaculture. Directly comparable product line, customer base (Japanese fishers), and business model to Nitto Seimo.
• King Chou Marine Technology: Taiwanese fishing net and rope manufacturer producing nets for commercial fishing and aquaculture. Direct product overlap and Asian-region customer base.
• Hampiðjan: Icelandic fishing net and rope manufacturer serving commercial fisheries and aquaculture worldwide. Comparable product mix (purse seine, trawl, aquaculture nets) with international reach.

Regional players

• Eide Fjordbruk: Norwegian aquaculture operator and equipment user. Compares as aquaculture industry participant and potential customer/peer in the European fish farming equipment ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MARUKOBAN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nitto-seimo-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Nitto Seimo