Zunibal celebrates its 30th anniversary consolidated as a reference in technological innovation for sustainable fishing.
- Zunibal celebrates its 30th anniversary as a trusted technology partner for tuna fishing, after three decades of expansion from Bizkaia to 45 countries. With a solid track record in innovation and sustainability, the company drives a responsible business model that is transforming the sector.
June 12, 2025, Bizkaia – Zunibal’s 30th anniversary was celebrated with a special dinner at Azurmendi, surrounded by those who have been key in its trajectory: clients, collaborators and institutions. Since its foundation in 1995 in Zamudio (Biscay), the company has been committed to innovation as the main engine to face the challenges of the sector, always with a strong commitment to the protection of the oceans and the economic sustainability of fishing fleets.
During these years, Zunibal has led pioneering projects that have marked technological milestones for tropical tuna fishing, from the first satellite buoy in 1998 to advanced monitoring systems and biodegradable devices to reduce environmental impact. Thanks to these solutions, the company has enabled shipowners and skippers to optimize their operations, improve their profitability and comply with international sustainability regulations.
Innovation has been, is and will be a strategic axis of Zunibal’s work. Over the last few years, the company has accelerated the digitalization of the sector by incorporating artificial intelligence. The collaboration with Cambrian Intelligence and the acquisition of a 20% stake in this company have enabled the integration of predictive algorithms capable of identifying in real time the buoys with the highest probability of capture and generating daily maps of recommended zones, optimizing fleet efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
At the same time, the company has just published its first Sustainability Report (2023-2024), which highlights a 38.8% reduction in energy intensity and a consumption of more than 91% from renewable sources. The report also presents the Searcle strategic program, designed to boost the circular economy and strengthen the protection of marine ecosystems.
Ibone Rodríguez de Pablo, CEO and shareholder of Zunibal, highlights: “Celebrating 30 years reflects the joint effort, determination and commitment shared by all the people who are part of Zunibal. Our evolution from a local company to a global benchmark is the result of the talent of our team and the trust of our clients and collaborators. Everything we have achieved so far inspires us to keep moving forward, turning challenges into new opportunities and ensuring that our essence, based on proximity, technological excellence and sustainability, continues to lead the way.“
Ángel Martínez, Zunibal’s Chief Commercial Officer, says: “For three decades we have shown that true innovation is not just about creating cutting-edge technologies, but developing them with soul. At Zunibal we learn from tradition, respect the ocean and move forward with the conviction that the way we do things-collaborative, responsible and honest-is as important as what we achieve.”
Zunibal’s commitment has been recognized with awards such as the Quality Innovation Award for Advanced Management 2023, the award for the Best ESG Initiative of SPAINCAP 2024 and the ODS Planet 2025 Award for the first industrially produced biodegradable FAD.
Looking ahead to the coming years, Zunibal will continue to put more data in the hands of the fleet, betting on the circular economy and adding science to each project to make tuna fishing increasingly efficient, profitable and respectful of the ocean.