A representative from TUNACONS said that since 2015, the tuna sustainability partnership, which includes founding members NIRSA, Servigrup, Eurofish, Pesquera Jadran, and Tri Marine with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), has been running an eight-year Fisheries Improvement Project to meet Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards.
"NIRSA has been one of the five founding members of TUNACONS since 2015, alongside Servigrup, Eurofish, Pesquera Jadran, and Tri Marine," said . "With technical support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This public‑private partnership implemented a Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) for 8 years to achieve international sustainability standards, such as those of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)."
According to the MSC, this statement reflects TUNACONS' multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at elevating environmental standards in Eastern Pacific tuna fishing. Formed in 2016, the partnership sought to improve practices to achieve MSC certification and included support from WWF to align efforts with global Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) best practices. The Marine Stewardship Council noted that the Eastern Pacific tuna FIP was one of the region’s most comprehensive sustainability efforts.
The TUNACONS representative further mentioned that NIRSA has implemented a variety of sustainability initiatives resulting in measurable conservation outcomes within Ecuador’s fishing sector. The company has attained MSC certification for all its yellowfin, skipjack, and bigeye tuna catches, ensuring compliance with top global standards. Additionally, over 2,000 biodegradable EcoFADs have been deployed to reduce marine pollution and minimize bycatch of vulnerable species such as sharks and sea turtles. NIRSA also maintains 100% onboard observer coverage to support data-driven ecological management.
Federal Newswire reports that despite NIRSA's internationally recognized sustainability practices and no public accusations of misconduct, its top executives remain under U.S. visa restrictions imposed during the Biden administration without explanation or formal appeal process. These unexplained revocations have prevented company leaders from traveling to the U.S., hindering planned investments and limiting direct engagement with American retail partners. Consequently, NIRSA has had to shift its commercial focus away from the U.S., although exports continue.
According to NIRSA, Roberto Aguirre has led the company for 47 years after becoming General Manager at age 22 following his father Julio Aguirre Iglesias's death. Under Aguirre's leadership, NIRSA has captured over 90% of Ecuador’s domestic market and exports to 35 countries across five continents. Known for his strong work ethic and daily 10-hour schedule, Aguirre attributes strategic planning and diversification as key factors in the company's success.