Built on Sincerity, Known for Quality

Atchan Tamaki arrived in the United States as a university student with more determination than connections. He worked his way through the basics—learning people, learning pace, learning how quality is won or lost in small details. In Maine, he noticed something others overlooked: sea urchin was abundant, but the value was leaving the shore because handling and transport were inconsistent.

Tamaki didn’t treat it as a shortcut. He spent years building a system—processing closer to the dock, tightening time-and-temperature control, and improving packaging so uni could travel with fewer shocks and fewer losses. Step by step, a small operation became a serious business, supporting local jobs and long-term relationships with buyers.

The company still runs by one simple standard: Integrity in records and promises, Safety in every handling step, and Freshness as the final proof. That’s Tamaki’s version of the American dream—quiet progress earned through disciplined work.

Years of dedication to quality
I.S.F. Trading is among the leading sea urchin processors on the U.S. East Coast, founded in Maine by Tamaki, a Japanese native who made the United States his home after university. Starting with a small crew, ISF grew by combining Japanese exactness with Maine grit—tight cold-chain control, disciplined QA, and a relentless focus on value for buyers and harvesters alike.

From our base on Hobson’s Wharf in Portland, ISF has helped shape the modern Gulf of Maine uni trade—working directly with fishermen and investing in processing close to the dock so uni can travel farther and arrive right. We pioneered the use of impact-resistant plastic trays/boxes for uni, improving consistency in transit and helping lower delivered costs without sacrificing freshness.

Over the decades, ISF’s operations have supported hundreds of jobs across harvesting, processing, and logistics, and earned recognition within Maine’s working-waterfront community. Today, our team continues to serve East Asian and global buyers with rigorous standards and dependable supply.

“Seafood comes and goes—easy come, easy go. What remains is discipline: quality in, quality out.” — Tamaki