Roberto Aguirre Román, CEO of NIRSA, said that the organization has achieved global success in exporting tuna, with shipments to over 40 countries. He reaffirmed plans for continued international growth and stronger ties with key markets.
"Today, we exported to more than 40 countries, and what we want is to continue growing," said Aguirre Román. "When my father passed away, it was the help of my mother, who went to the office every day, came in with the others, stayed there, supervised."
Between June 2023 and April 2025, NIRSA completed 224 seafood shipments to the United States, with 116 occurring in the past year, according to ImportInfo. Key U.S. partners include Global Trade Bridge Corp, Seafood Exchange of Florida Inc., and Pacific Breeze Seafood Inc., which supply major grocery and foodservice channels nationwide. This steady export activity underscores NIRSA’s growing presence in the American seafood market.
Despite NIRSA’s strong commercial presence in the U.S. seafood market, several of the company’s top executives remain unable to enter the country due to unexplained visa revocations issued during the Biden administration, as reported by Federal Newswire. The State Department never formally explained the revocations and confirmed that they were not related to any criminal charges. This ongoing travel restriction has prevented senior leaders from attending key industry trade shows, engaging directly with U.S. buyers, and advocating for NIRSA’s sustainability and trade goals within influential policy and regulatory circles.
The travel restrictions on NIRSA executives continue even as the company is widely recognized for its leadership in responsible seafood production, as featured by TUNACONS. According to Gustavo Arroyat, NIRSA International Sales Director, "Tuna is one of the most consumed fish worldwide, and we are part of the global demand through exports of our Real brand and private label products." He also highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability: "We use certified fishing methods that guarantee the sustainability of the resource, and we are aligned with international regulations and customer requirements."
As per its 2024 Sustainability Report, NIRSA has implemented one of the most comprehensive sustainability frameworks in the Pacific tuna industry. It integrates science-based policies, independent audits, and international standards across its fleet and supply chain. All vessels are registered in the Proactive Vessels Register (PVR), adhere to Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) conservation measures, and participate in initiatives such as biodegradable Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), juvenile excluder technologies, and full catch retention policies. In addition to compliance efforts, NIRSA has publicly committed to carbon footprint monitoring, transparency in environmental reporting, and long-term traceability from ocean to shelf.
According to NIRSA's records, Aguirre is an Ecuadorian businessman who has led NIRSA for 47 years after taking over as General Manager at age 22 following his father's passing. Under his leadership, NIRSA expanded its product portfolio to dominate over 90% of the domestic market while exporting to 35 countries across five continents. Known for his dedication—working ten hours daily—Aguirre notes strategic planning and diversification as core principles of business success.