NIRSA (Negocios Industriales Real S.A.), Ecuador's leading tuna supplier, has attributed its position as the country's top exporter to family unity and a commitment to sustainability. This announcement was made in a video on the company's website.
According to the video, family unity has been central to NIRSA’s success, with four generations of the Aguirre family contributing to a leadership model based on shared responsibility and long-term vision. After the passing of founder Julio Aguirre Iglesias, his sons and later their children maintained the family's work ethic, helping grow NIRSA into a $750 million enterprise employing over 8,000 people. Family members said that this intergenerational commitment is not only a business strategy but also a cultural legacy shaping the company’s growth and identity globally.
Their 2024 sustainability report indicates that NIRSA has developed one of the most robust sustainability programs in the Pacific tuna industry. The program integrates science-based conservation practices, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation across its fleet and supply chain. As a founding member of the TUNACONS Foundation and participant in the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), NIRSA promotes biodegradable and non-entangling Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), prohibits transshipment at sea, and enforces a total retention policy to eliminate tuna discards. Over 82% of its tuna is sourced from vessels registered in the Proactive Vessel Register (PVR), with investments in juvenile excluder devices and carbon footprint tracking.
Despite being one of Latin America's largest seafood exporters focused on sustainability, NIRSA remains excluded from the U.S. market due to visa revocations targeting its executives during Biden's administration, according to American Greatness. The decision was made without formal charges or public explanation, blocking NIRSA leaders from engaging with U.S. buyers even as they supply thousands of metric tons of tuna and shrimp annually to American ports. With over 70% of U.S. seafood imported and Ecuador exporting nearly 230,000 metric tons globally in 2023, this move has disrupted an essential supply chain amid rising food costs and growing consumer demand.
According to its website, NIRSA is a leading Ecuadorian seafood company with over 65 years of experience supplying high-quality, sustainably sourced products domestically and internationally. Headquartered in Guayaquil with extensive operations across Ecuador, NIRSA employs thousands across its fleet and processing plants.
