Most U.S. seafood buyers know the feeling of a last-minute scramble. A container stalls, a spec slips, a supplier suddenly cannot provide basic paperwork…
The longer and more fragmented the supply chain, the more chances there are for something to go wrong. Every handoff between vessel, processor, exporter, distributor, and broker creates another point where quality, timing, or documentation can break down.
Vertically integrated U.S. fisheries offer a different model. When one operator controls the catch, handling, packing, and logistics, buyers get clearer accountability, faster answers, and a steadier flow of product.
Why vertically integrated U.S. fisheries benefit wholesale buyers
“When we control the boats and the process, we can stand behind every lot we ship,” says Cassie Canastra Larsen, CEO of Canastra Fishing Co. “That control protects specs, schedules, and buyer reputations.”
NOAA says the U.S. imported 6.3 billion pounds of edible seafood in 2023, and that about 80% of the seafood Americans eat comes from foreign imports.
That scale creates opportunity, but it also creates exposure. Many imported products move through multiple independent companies before they ever reach an American buyer.
Vertical integration strips out much of that complexity. When one supplier controls more of the chain, responsibility stays clear and problems can be resolved faster.
Canastra Fishing Co.’s Chief Operating Officer, Ben McKinney, explains that vertical integration directly addresses the most common concern among seafood buyers.
“Every buyer I talk to wants the same thing: consistency,” says Ben. “Working with vertically integrated fisheries is the only realistic way to deliver the level of reliability our clients expect.”
RELATED: Why domestic seafood creates a more reliable supply chain
The tangible costs of the ‘handoff tax’
When seafood moves between different companies and facilities, the risk multiplies.
Buyers end up paying what feels like a “handoff tax.” They spend more time chasing updates, solving paperwork issues, and managing substitutions.
And the cost is not only administrative.
Long, complex supply chains can also affect the product itself. More transfers can mean more handling, more temperature variation, more repacking, and more chances for shelf life to shorten before the fish ever reaches the end customer.
Any one of those issues might be manageable on its own. Stack several together, and it becomes much harder to deliver consistent quality week after week.
RELATED: Whitefish wholesale: Domestic vs imported no longer tells the full story
Better sourcing shouldn’t come from cutting corners
Vertical integration can reduce costs and save stress for buyers, but the way a company creates those savings matters.
Some seafood businesses try to gain control by squeezing labor, lowering standards, or putting pressure on the people doing the work. That may reduce a price on paper, but it creates risk elsewhere in the chain.
For Canastra Fishing Co., the goal is different. The company wants to remove unnecessary handoffs, improve communication, and create a more direct route from boat to buyer without weakening the people behind the product.
“We need to be vertically integrated to provide a better price for buyers, but we won’t do that at the cost of our team,” says Cassie.
A supplier that protects its crews, dock workers, office team, and local partners can build a more stable operation over time. Lower prices mean little if they come from poor retention, rushed handling, or a culture that burns people out.
Responsible vertical integration should make the supply chain stronger, not just cheaper.
Reliable traceability when auditors call
The global seafood trade keeps growing. FAO says fisheries and aquaculture production reached 223.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Growth at that scale brings more opportunity, but it also raises the stakes for traceability.
Buyers need accurate records, clean chain-of-custody documentation, and fast answers when auditors or procurement teams start asking questions.
That’s where vertically integrated U.S. fisheries have a real edge. Fewer handoffs usually mean fewer documentation gaps and a faster path back to the source.
“For U.S. buyers sourcing seafood directly from the trusted docks of New Bedford, you have a direct line to the crew that caught it,” Ben says. “That’s a level of transparency you simply won’t find with a shipping container arriving from the other side of the world.”
New regulations reshaping seafood supply chains
Beyond the day-to-day risk of delays and spec issues, tighter rules are making fragmented import chains harder to manage. For some imports, that now means a higher risk of delays or extra paperwork.
Importers also face the Seafood Import Monitoring Program, which requires traceability data showing where certain seafood was caught and how it moved into U.S. commerce. NOAA says this applies to more than 1,100 species across 13 groups and covers about half of U.S. seafood imports.
That gives vertically integrated fisheries—particularly domestic fisheries—an advantage. Fewer handoffs often mean fewer paperwork gaps, fewer disconnected systems, and a clearer chain of custody from boat to buyer.
How to evaluate a vertically integrated seafood supplier
Not every domestic seafood supplier that claims to be “vertically integrated” actually operates with the level of control buyers expect. Savvy buyers need to look past the label and ask practical questions.
Checklist for buyers to use in seafood supplier calls
Vessel ownership and control
- Do you own or directly control the vessels?
- Can you share details about fleet size, crew oversight, and maintenance?
Processing ownership and location
- Where does processing take place?
- Who runs those facilities?
- Do the same handling standards apply across every location?
Documentation and traceability
- What records travel with each lot?
- Can you provide vessel logs and chain-of-custody documents quickly?
- How fast can your team respond to an audit request?
Grading and specification consistency
- How do you maintain grading standards?
- Do you run regular internal quality checks?
Workforce and community standards
- How do you protect crews, dock workers, plant staff, and local partners as you grow?
- Can you explain where cost savings come from without pointing to lower labor standards?
Handling deviations
- What happens if a lot misses spec?
- How do you notify buyers, and what corrective actions do you take?
End-to-end accountability
- Who owns responsibility from vessel to delivery?
- Where are the transfer points, and how do you manage risk at each one?
Suppliers who answer those questions clearly have real control. Suppliers who can’t often rely on a looser network than buyers expect.
A clearer chain of custody from boat to buyer
For seafood buyers who value consistency and hate surprises, sourcing from a vertically integrated supplier is a simpler path.
Canastra Fishing Co. became a fully vertically integrated supplier with the 2023 acquisition of vessels and permits from a local fishery. By bringing fishing, auction, and distribution closer together, the company has built a more controlled supply chain for wholesale buyers.
That control also creates a responsibility to do things the right way. Canastra Fishing Co.’s vertical integration model depends on the same people who have always powered the New Bedford waterfront: captains, crews, dock workers, graders, office staff, local vendors and long-term partners.
The best vertically integrated suppliers reduce waste in the chain without pushing the burden onto the people who make the chain work.
“Fishing isn’t just our business. It’s in our blood,” says Cassie. “We believe buyers deserve honest pricing and a direct line to the source. And our community deserves to benefit too.”
Ready to compare your current seafood sourcing setup with a more direct alternative? Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss options.
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