The commercial fishing industry in Virginia holds a significant place in both the local and national economy. This sector, populated by companies ranging in size from small family operations to multinational conglomerates, is dedicated to the harvesting, processing, and distribution of a wide variety of seafood. They offer products including but not limited to wild scallops, shrimp, oysters, and southern king crab. With the advance in technology and ever-increasing demand for seafood, the industry is progressing towards sustainable fishing practices to ensure the lasting availability of seafood for generations to come.


Top 22 commercial fishing companies in Virginia

1. Wanchese Fish Company

  • Website: wanchese.com
  • Headquarters: Suffolk, Virginia, United States
  • Founded: 1936
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • LinkedIn

Wanchese Fish Company is a leading supplier of seafood products in North America and Europe. They are a vertically integrated seafood harvester, processor, and distributor, specializing in wild scallops, shrimp, oysters, southern king crab, and other seafood products. With a state-of-the-art processing plant in Suffolk, Virginia, they offer high-quality frozen seafood to the retail and foodservice industries.


2. Commercial Fishing

Commercial Fishing is a resource for commercial fishing, aquaculture, online seafood vendors, seafood wholesalers, bait dealers, equipment suppliers, fishermen, commercial boat builders and anyone interested in commercial fishing.


3. Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association

  • Website: joinvssa.org
  • Headquarters: Henrico, Virginia, United States
  • Headcount: 11-50

The Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association (VSSA) advocates for recreational saltwater fishing and aims to protect Virginia's marine ecosystems and livelihoods.


4. Virginia Beach Fishing Center

Virginia Beach Fishing Center offers a fully licensed and inspected charter fleet of world-class captains, dockage and slips for both transient and annual occupancy, a store full of tackle and bait, and an ideal location right on Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach for all types of fishing adventures.


5. Chesapeake Marine Railway

Chesapeake Marine Railway is a Massachusetts based shipyard that has served the fishing fleet of New England since before the Civil War. They offer drydocking, maintenance, and repair for vessels of all sizes including fishing boats, tugboats, ferries, and pleasure craft.


6. B & C Seafood, Inc.

B&C Seafood, Inc is a seafood supplier based in Newport News, VA offering a wide range of fresh seafood to a variety of customers.


7. Blind Date Charters

Blind Date Charters offers a variety of fishing experiences for up to six persons. They specialize in fishing the lower Chesapeake Bay, near shore and coastal waters for a variety of local saltwater gamefish including flounder, seabass, tilefish, cobia, red drum, black drum, spadefish, and striped bass.


8. Git-R-Done Sportfishing

Enjoy a Virginia Beach fishing trip aboard THE ____GIT_R_DONE____ for tuna, marlin, wahoo, and other big game fish including inshore striper fishing during the late fall open season.


9. Sea Shepherd's

To defend, conserve and protect our oceans. Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization that engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife, and conserve and protect the worlds oceans from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction. Our oceans and its inhabitants are dying from overfishing and habitat destruction. Poachers plunder marine life sanctuaries with impunity, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing goes unchecked in the high seas far from public scrutiny. International and national laws protecting the worlds oceans are difficult to enforce. Sea Shepherd uses direct action to defend marine life on the high seas, and works with national authorities to tackle illegal fishing in sovereign waters. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 by Paul Watson, one of the original members of Greenpeace. Since its grassroots beginnings it has grown into an unstoppable global movement with independent groups established in over 20 countries. Sea Shepherd Global's fleet currently consisting of five vessels plays a crucial role in our mission to defend, conserve and protect marine life in direct-action campaigns around the world, from Antarctica to Africa. Artists, musicians, and actors from around the world use their talent to support Sea Shepherds mission and share their concern about the future of our oceans.


10. Loudoun Economic Development

At the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development, we help you build your business. Dedicated to recruiting new business, growing our existing industries and improving our country's business climate, we provide a wide range of services for your company, whether you're a start-up or well-established player. We do this by: * Targeting key industries including information & communications technology, Federal government contracting, data centers, aerospace, aviation & transportation, health information & analytics and agriculture. * Building our new and existing businesses with strong business assistance programs. * Keeping up with the latest incentives and workforce training opportunities available to your business - and helping you take advantage of these opportunities.


11. Ocean Products Research, Inc.

Ocean Products Research Inc. is a rope-manufacturing company with a focus on government and military clients. They offer a wide range of synthetic net and rope assemblies with high standards for strength, reliability and performance.


12. BEI Tactical

BEI Tactical LLC is a company that provides turnkey solutions for Vessel Leasing and Staffing. It offers services to the United States military, including USSOCOM, and other related companies


13. Iba Led LLC.

  • Website: ibaled.com
  • Headquarters: Gordonsville, Virginia, United States
  • Founded: 2008
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

IBA LED is a manufacturer and distributor of LED lighting solutions for the farming, equestrian, office, food processing, warehouses, sports arena, parking lot and residential markets. Their products include Daylight Harvesting, Microwave Systems and PIR Sensors.


14. Patina Restaurant & Bar

Patinarva is a company that specializes in the design and manufacture of agricultural machinery equipment, including micro-tillers, excavating boats, and harvester boats.


15. Smart Machine Technologies

Smart Machine Technologies, Inc. is a global designer, fabricator, contract manufacturer, builder of world-class food & beverage equipment, and steel tanks.


16. iSportsman

  • Website: isportsman.com
  • Headquarters: Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
  • Founded: 2005
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

iSportsman is a recreational management SaaS company that provides tools and technology to manage outdoor activities and preserve natural resources.


17. Roanoke Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited

Roanoke Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. They offer various projects and events like Project Healing Waters Fly Tying Night and Trout In Classrooms for Teachers.


18. Palliative Care

  • Website: dyingwell.org
  • Headquarters: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
  • Headcount: 51-200

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19. National Fisheries Institute

AboutSeafood.com is a platform that provides factual information and resources about seafood. They work towards promoting healthy eating, sustainable fishing practices, responsible aquaculture, and free trade in the seafood industry. The company supports sound public policy and nutrition information based on scientific research.


20. ENVIRON.Inc

Environ is a non-profit based around the idea of creating a brighter and cleaner world for all through social media advertising, education, and awareness. Environ started with three seniors in high school who decided to take a new approach to creating a more environmentally friendly planet. Join us by viewing our website, be sure to follow us on Linkedin


21. Montagna Maritime Law

If you’ve been seriously injured at work, don’t wait to contact a maritime attorney. In many cases, there is a statute of limitations, which means if you don’t file your case within a certain amount of time, you could miss out on receiving compensation for your injuries. Speak to one of our maritime attorneys for your free consultation. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so you can get the legal advice you need without worrying about up-front costs. No matter what type of accident you’ve been involved in or injury you’ve suffered, we will take the time to understand every detail of your case so we can build a successful legal strategy on your behalf.


22. Toby Keith

Ed Kelleher impersonates Toby Keith and performs throughout the country on stage at corporate events, fairs, festivals, private events and special occasions.


Want to find more commercial fishing companies?


If you want to find more companies that offer an array of products from wild scallops to oysters you can do so with Inven. This list was built with Inven and there are hundreds of companies like these globally.


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...and a lot more!