NAICS 424460 Quarterly Industry Report
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 424460Sector: Wholesale Trade (42)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 424460 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], Bureau of Labor Statistics[8], and Small Business Administration[6] to profile the fish and seafood wholesale distribution sector. Our research team analyzes cold chain logistics, seasonal supply patterns, and import market dynamics to provide accurate market intelligence for business valuation purposes. The report covers SBA size standards, related NAICS classifications, and the regulatory environment governing seafood distribution. Fair Market Value updates this NAICS 424460 profile quarterly to reflect new Census releases and industry developments.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the fish and seafood merchant wholesalers industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (NAICS 424460) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of fish and seafood, including fresh, frozen, cured, and smoked products. These wholesalers purchase directly from commercial fishing operations, aquaculture farms, and seafood processors, then distribute to restaurants, grocery retailers, institutional food service operations, and export markets. Product lines span finfish (salmon, tuna, cod, tilapia), shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters), and processed seafood items such as smoked salmon and salted cod.
Cold chain management defines the operational requirements for this industry. Wholesalers must maintain unbroken temperature-controlled storage and transportation from point of purchase through final delivery. FDA food safety regulations under the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)[5] framework impose strict handling, labeling, and traceability requirements on seafood distributors. Import compliance adds another layer of regulatory burden, as a substantial share of U.S. seafood consumption relies on imported products subject to customs inspection and country-of-origin labeling rules.
The SBA[6] sets the size standard at 100 employees for this industry. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[7], establishments must take title to the goods they distribute, separating merchant wholesalers from brokers and agents. Seasonal supply fluctuations from wild-catch fisheries create inventory management challenges, while farmed seafood provides more predictable year-round supply. Growing consumer demand for sustainably sourced seafood has pushed wholesalers to adopt certification programs and supply chain transparency measures that track product origin from harvest through distribution.
What's Included in This Industry
- Wholesale distribution of fresh fish and seafood
- Distribution of frozen fish and shellfish products
- Wholesale of cured, smoked, and salted seafood
- Distribution of live lobster, crab, and shellfish
- Wholesale of shrimp and prawn products
- Distribution of farm-raised fish and aquaculture products
- Wholesale of seafood fillets and processed cuts
- Distribution of imported fish and seafood products
- Wholesale of oysters, clams, mussels, and mollusks
- Distribution of specialty and value-added seafood items
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Wholesale Trade | 42 |
| Subsector | Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 424 |
| Industry Group | Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers | 4244 |
| NAICS Industry | Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers | 42446 |
| National Industry | Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers | 424460 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 424410 | General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers | Distributes general line groceries including some packaged seafood products, operating broader food distribution networks that overlap with seafood wholesale channels |
| 424420 | Packaged Frozen Food Merchant Wholesalers | Handles packaged frozen food wholesale distribution including frozen seafood products that compete with fresh and frozen fish distributed under this code |
| 424470 | Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers | Distributes meat and meat products through similar cold chain wholesale infrastructure, often serving the same restaurant and retail customers as seafood wholesalers |
| 424480 | Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers | Handles fresh fruit and vegetable wholesale distribution, sharing perishable logistics requirements and serving many of the same food service customers |
| 424490 | Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers | Covers other grocery and related products wholesale distribution, with some overlap in specialty food items and ethnic market seafood products |
| 424820 | Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers | Distributes wine and distilled alcoholic beverages through wholesale channels, sharing restaurant and hospitality customer bases with seafood distributors |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 16.6% | 324 |
| 2 | Florida | 12.7% | 248 |
| 3 | New York | 11.6% | 227 |
| 4 | Maine | 7.6% | 148 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6.4% | 125 |
| 6 | Louisiana | 5.5% | 107 |
| 7 | Washington | 5.4% | 105 |
| 8 | Texas | 4.6% | 89 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 3.6% | 71 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 2.6% | 50 |
% Of Establishments
0%
17%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
328
Total SBA Loans
$235.9M
Total Loan Volume
$719K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.52%
Average Interest Rate
3,232
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[6] classifies NAICS 424460 under nondurable goods merchant wholesale trade with a size standard of 100 employees. Businesses at or below this threshold qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA loan programs. Fish and seafood wholesalers can access SBA 7(a) loans[9] for cold storage equipment, refrigerated fleet expansion, and working capital during seasonal inventory buildups. Firms purchasing cold storage warehouse facilities may qualify for 504 loans[10]. HACCP compliance costs and food safety infrastructure investments represent common financing needs in this classification.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookline Bank, a Division of Beacon Bank and Trust | 24 | $54.6M | $2.3M |
| 2 | Eastern Bank | 16 | $40.2M | $2.5M |
| 3 | The MINT National Bank | 8 | $30.4M | $3.8M |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 40 | $27.2M | $680K |
| 5 | Northeast Bank | 72 | $19.6M | $272K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 424460?
NAICS 424460 covers merchant wholesalers that purchase and resell fish and seafood products including fresh, frozen, cured, and smoked items. These businesses take ownership of inventory and distribute to restaurants, grocery stores, institutional food service, and export markets. Source: U.S. Census Bureau[7]
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 424460?
The SBA sets the size standard at 100 employees for fish and seafood merchant wholesalers. Businesses at or below this employee count qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA financing programs. Source: SBA Size Standards[6]
What regulations affect fish and seafood wholesalers?
Fish and seafood wholesalers must comply with FDA HACCP food safety requirements, maintain cold chain temperature controls, follow country-of-origin labeling rules, and meet import inspection standards for foreign-sourced products. State health department regulations add additional handling and storage requirements. Source: FDA Food Safety[5]
How does NAICS 424460 differ from seafood processing?
NAICS 424460 covers wholesale distribution of fish and seafood, while NAICS 311710 covers seafood product preparation and packaging. Wholesalers purchase finished or semi-finished products for resale, while processors transform raw seafood into consumer-ready products. Some companies perform both functions.
What NAICS codes are related to fish and seafood wholesalers?
Related wholesale codes include 424410 (general line groceries), 424420 (packaged frozen foods), 424470 (meat products), and 424490 (other grocery products). Supply-side codes include 114111 (finfish fishing) and 114112 (shellfish fishing). Source: Census NAICS[7]
Can fish and seafood wholesalers get SBA loans?
Yes, small businesses under NAICS 424460 can access SBA 7(a) loans for working capital and equipment, 504 loans for cold storage facility purchases, and microloans for smaller needs. Cold chain infrastructure and HACCP compliance investments are common financing purposes. Source: SBA Loan Programs[11]
What products do fish and seafood wholesalers distribute?
Products include fresh finfish (salmon, tuna, cod), shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters), frozen seafood, smoked and cured fish, live shellfish, farm-raised fish, processed seafood cuts, and imported seafood from global sources. Source: U.S. Census Bureau[7]
How does seasonality affect fish and seafood wholesale?
Wild-catch fisheries produce seasonal supply fluctuations tied to fishing seasons, spawning cycles, and weather patterns. Wholesalers manage these swings through frozen inventory buffers and farmed seafood sourcing. Holiday periods and Lent drive demand spikes that require advance procurement planning.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) fda.gov
- [6]SBA sba.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [10]504 loans sba.gov
- [11]SBA Loan Programs sba.gov
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