OPAGAC

What OPAGAC does

OPAGAC (Organización de Productores Asociados de Grandes Atuneros Congeladores) is a Spanish producer association founded in 1982 and headquartered in Madrid, representing 8 member shipowner companies operating approximately 47-50 purse seine freezer tuna vessels across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. The association represents roughly 3% of global tropical tuna production (~345,000 tonnes MSC-certified as of October 2025) and ~2,400 maritime professionals, of whom 1,600 are crew. OPAGAC's core technical platform centers on purse seine fishing (2,000m nets, 200m depth) augmented by 100% observer coverage via human and Electronic Monitoring Systems, a 24/7 Vessel Monitoring System control center, world-first on-board telemedicine across 12 vessels, and the FAD Watch programme in Seychelles.

OPAGAC co-developed with AENOR the UNE 195006 'Atún de Pesca Responsable' (APR) standard — the first global standard certifying both environmental sustainability and labor conditions on fishing vessels per ILO Convention 188. Through a 2016 MoU with WWF-España, OPAGAC runs the world's only globally-scoped tuna Fishery Improvement Project, which delivered progressive MSC certification culminating in 95% catch coverage and the first Indian Ocean yellowfin stock certification. Member fleet catch flows primarily to Spanish canning brands (Isabel/Bolton Food, Campos/Salica) and Atunlo prepared products, with downstream processing also handled by Thai Union in Seychelles.

The business model rests on member dues from the 8 shipowner companies and APR certification licensing fees from any tuna vessel or processor worldwide that adopts the voluntary UNE 195006 standard. Go-to-market combines consumer-facing advocacy (the 'Girando con APR' university campaign, Salón Gourmets, Conxemar, AULA student fair) with regulatory lobbying toward the EU Commission for import standards aligned with APR/ILO C188. Strategic sub-brands include the APR label, empleAtún (a 2026 labor intermediation platform with 809 applications in its first year), and the 'Hands for the Oceans' international movement launched in 2023.

Name

OPAGAC

Legal name

Organización de Productores Asociados de Grandes Atuneros Congeladores

Website

https://opagac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OPAGAC is a Spanish producer association founded in 1982 representing 8 shipowner companies operating 47-50 purse seine tuna vessels across three oceans, accounting for ~3% of global tropical tuna catch. It developed the APR certification standard and serves Spanish canning brands and EU retailers with MSC/APR-certified sustainable tuna.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuna Catch Sales: OPAGAC represents and manages the interests of associated vessel owners (armadores) who operate a fleet of approximately 47-50 purse seine freezer tuna vessels. The primary revenue comes from fishing tropical tuna (yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack) in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and selling the catch to processing plants (canneries). Catch is sold to Spanish and European processing companies and traded internationally.
2. APR Certification Licensing: The Norma UNE 195006 'Atún de Pesca Responsable' (APR) standard is offered voluntarily to any tuna fishing vessel and processing company worldwide. Certified vessels and canneries pay for AENOR conformity assessment and certification, generating licensing revenue for the standard.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

OPAGAC is a Spanish producer organization representing owners of approximately 47-50 purse seine freezer tuna vessels that catch tropical tuna (yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack) across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. The association sells the catch to processing companies and canneries, and licenses the UNE 195006 APR (Atún de Pesca Responsable) AENOR certification standard—the world's first standard certifying labor conditions on fishing vessels per ILO Convention 188—to vessels and processors globally. It also coordinates fleet-wide sustainability initiatives including 100% observer coverage, electronic monitoring, vessel telemedicine, FAD management, and the EmpleAtún employment platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• empleAtún: Digital labor intermediation platform developed specifically for the tuna fleet, connecting employers with job seekers in the tuna industry.
• Atún de Pesca Responsable (APR)
• Hands for the Oceans

Products and services

• Tropical Tuna Catch (Yellowfin, Bigeye, Skipjack) Fresh/frozen tropical tuna catch (yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack) from approximately 47-50 purse seine freezer vessels operating across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Sold by OPAGAC member vessel owners to processing companies and canneries including Bolton Food (Isabel), Salica (Campos), Atunlo, and Thai Union in Seychelles. Represents approximately 3% of global tropical tuna production (~345,000 tonnes annually).
• APR AENOR Certification (UNE 195006 Atún de Pesca Responsable) Voluntary certification standard offered to any tuna fishing vessel and processing company worldwide. The first standard in the world to certify social/labor conditions on fishing vessels per ILO Convention 188, along with environmental sustainability, catch control, and sanitary conditions. AENOR conducts conformity assessments and issues APR certificates; certified vessels and canneries pay certification fees, and consumer products carry the APR AENOR Conform label with QR code linking to product origin.
• EmpleAtún Labor Intermediation Platform Digital labor intermediation platform connecting job seekers and students with tuna fleet employers. Operated by OPAGAC to address the generational workforce turnover (12.5% of workforce, ~300 professionals needing replacement over 5 years) and attract talent to the tuna sector. Promoted at AULA International Student Fair at IFEMA Madrid, maritime/fisheries training schools across Galicia, Basque Country, Asturias, and Andalusia. Registered 809 job applications in 2025 (+26.6% YoY).

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of catches (345,000 tonnes) certified under MSC as of October 2025; first global fishery to certify Indian Ocean yellowfin stock with MSC
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WWF EspañacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2016OPAGAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WWF-ES on February 11, 2016 to develop the OPAGAC Global Tuna FIP (Fishery Improvement Project). Described as the most ambitious and only globally-scoped tuna FIP in the world. The FIP establishes sustainable fishing standards and has contributed to MSC certification across all three oceans.
• AENOR (Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAENOR collaborated with OPAGAC to develop and certify the UNE 195006 APR (Atún de Pesca Responsable) standard. AENOR conducts conformity assessments and issues APR certificates to vessels and processing companies meeting the standard. OPAGAC is the first fishing fleet in Spain to join the UN Global Compact through this partnership.
• Educación AzulcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOPAGAC partners with Educación Azul, an initiative promoting knowledge of sea-related professions, to attract young talent to the tuna sector. Educación Azul participates in OPAGAC events including AULA student fair, where president Mercedes Pardo discusses the future of tuna employment with OPAGAC.
• AZTI (Instituto Tecnológico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAZTI is the technology institute that verifies OPAGAC's Código de Buenas Prácticas (Code of Good Practices). AZTI scientists contribute to validating OPAGAC's sustainability initiatives, which are later applied fleet-wide. OPAGAC shares observer data with AZTI for scientific research.
• Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAGAC shares 100% observer coverage data with IEO for tuna stock assessment and scientific research in all three oceans. The collaboration supports international fisheries management through RFMO processes.
• Seychelles Fishing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAGAC signed an agreement with the Seychelles Fishing Authority in 2016 for a pilot electronic observer monitoring program aboard vessels operating in the Indian Ocean. This was one of the first e-monitoring programs in tuna fisheries.
• Brikole (Seychelles)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrikole is a Seychelles-based startup focused on circular economy activities managing fishing industry waste streams. OPAGAC signed a MoU with Brikole to manage, process, and sell recycled fishing nets from the tuna fleet.
• SinerxiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAGAC collaborated with Sinerxia consultancy on the 'Second Life for Fishing Nets' project, evaluating possibilities for recycling discarded fishing nets from the tuna fleet in Abidjan, Port Victoria (Seychelles), and Manta (Ecuador). Also signed a collaboration agreement in March 2021 to promote sustainable and responsible fishing.
• Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (Gobierno de España)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMAPA co-finances OPAGAC initiatives including the empleAtún labor platform and the 'Girando con APR' university campaign through FEMPA (Fondo Europeo Marítimo de Pesca y Acuicultura). MAPA also awards the 'Alimentos de España' prize to OPAGAC.
• Gobierno VascocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Basque Government supported OPAGAC crew COVID-19 repatriation operations by providing PCR tests for crew members based in the Basque Country during the pandemic. Also supports empleAtún recruitment campaign sessions in Basque Country schools.
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSC certified OPAGAC's tropical tuna fishery. OPAGAC was the first global fishery to certify yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean with MSC (2025), first to certify all three oceans, and reached 95% MSC coverage of catches (345,000 tonnes) by October 2025. OPAGAC won the IV MSC 'Mares Para Siempre' award in 2026.
• COMHAFAT (Conferencia Ministerial sobre Cooperación Pesquera del Atlántico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAGAC presents its Tuna Transparency Initiative (ITT) at COMHAFAT ministerial conferences. The initiative advocates for transparency in fishing license allocation and fishing activity in Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zones of 22 member states.
• IOTC, WCPFC, ICCAT (Regional Fisheries Management Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAGAC works with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) — IOTC (Indian Ocean), WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific), ICCAT (Atlantic) — presenting studies on bycatch, FAD management, and best practices. OPAGAC's initiatives are proposed as measures for other tuna fleets through RFMOs.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Thai Union Group: Global seafood conglomerate and one of the world's largest canned tuna processors (Chicken of the Sea, John West). Processes OPAGAC fleet catches at its Seychelles plant and competes for the same EU canned tuna shelf, making it both a customer and a competitive incumbent.
• Bolton Food (Isabel brand): Italian-headquartered canned seafood group whose Isabel brand was first to obtain APR certification in 2019 and sold 21M cans of APR-certified tuna in 2022. A key downstream customer but also a powerful shelf-share competitor in European canned tuna.
• Dongwon Industries: Korean seafood conglomerate and one of the world's largest distant-water tuna fishing companies. Comparable as a global purse seine operator competing for the same Atlantic/Indian/Pacific tropical tuna catch and EU retail contracts, but with different cost structure and no APR-equivalent labor certification.
• Grupo Calvo: Spanish canned tuna and seafood company and member of OPAGAC via its fishing arm (Calvo Pesca). Comparable as an integrated Spanish tuna processor and vessel owner that benefits from and co-develops the APR standard.

Others

• AENOR (Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación): Spanish certification body that co-developed the UNE 195006 APR standard with OPAGAC and conducts conformity assessments. Comparable as the standards/certification infrastructure provider whose IP and audit capability OPAGAC depends on, and a partner rather than competitor.
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC): Global sustainable seafood certification body that certified OPAGAC's Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock and 95% of catches. Comparable as the certifying authority whose label enables OPAGAC's premium positioning and which awarded OPAGAC the IV 'Mares Para Siempre' prize in 2026.
• WWF Spain: OPAGAC's FIP partner since 2016 under a global-scope tuna MoU. Comparable as the NGO partner that co-developed and validates OPAGAC's sustainability program and lends external credibility to APR claims.

Direct peers

• ANABAC (Asociación Nacional de Armadores de Buques Atuneros Congeladores): Spanish tuna producer organization representing freezer tuna vessel owners, directly comparable to OPAGAC as a domestic counterpart representing the Spanish pole-and-line and baitboat tuna fleet. Both lobby in Brussels and manage sustainability initiatives for the Spanish fleet.
• Albacora (member of OPAGAC): Spanish tuna purse seine vessel operator and one of OPAGAC's eight member companies. Directly comparable as a fellow Spanish fleet operator participating in the same APR/MSC certification program and customer base.
• ORTHONGEL (Organisation des Producteurs de Thon Congelé): French producer organization for the French tropical tuna purse seine fleet, the closest EU peer to OPAGAC. Operates a similar FIP and certification model for EU distant-water tuna, and competes with OPAGAC for favorable EU regulatory treatment and shelf space with European canners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_Opagac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@opagac5964
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opagac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 OPAGAC