Fishing isn’t just our business—it’s in our blood.

In the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, a canastra was more than a basket. These sturdy fish carriers were hauled by peixairas, the women who sold the day’s catch shoreside. Over time, Canastra became a surname—passed down to mark the trade.

Our family originates from São Miguel, where the name first tied us to the sea. We brought that name—and that tradition—with us to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Today, Canastra Fishing Company remains grounded in the same values: hard work, respect for the ocean and a deep commitment to the fishing industry.