Ambienta builds sustainable aquaculture technology platform

Ambienta, one of Europe’s largest asset managers focused exclusively on environmental sustainability, has acquired four aquaculture technology companies through its Ambienta IV fund, creating a new multi-asset industrial platform targeting more sustainable fish farming.

The newly formed platform brings together Bio Marine, Flatsetsund Engineering (FLS), Smir and P/F GroAqua Group. The businesses provide technologies covering fish health, feed optimisation, equipment, farming systems and waste treatment, with the aim of addressing operational and environmental challenges across the aquaculture industry.

“Aquaculture is one of the most resource-efficient sources of animal protein, and we believe it has a critical role to play in feeding a growing population within planetary boundaries,” said Milena Torciano, partner at Ambienta.

The companies’ technologies are intended to support fish welfare, improve production efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. Their solutions include underwater lighting, oxygenation, environmental monitoring, mechanical delousing, digital feeding systems, UV-C treatment, biomass monitoring and sludge treatment.

Ambienta said the acquisition represents the first step in its ambition to build a Nordic leader in diversified industrial technology for sustainable aquaculture. The platform is expected to create opportunities for cross-selling and accelerate product development across its portfolio.

The investment comes as global demand for aquatic food continues to increase. According to Ambienta, aquatic animal production has grown from around 80 million tonnes in the early 1980s to almost 200 million tonnes in 2024, while aquatic foods now account for about 15% of animal protein consumed globally.

Ambienta said aquaculture will be important to meeting future demand as wild catches have remained broadly flat and many marine fish stocks are already fully or overfished.

The four businesses bring complementary expertise. Norway-based BioMarine focuses on fish health and environmental performance, while FLS develops mechanical delousing and monitoring technologies. Smir specialises in feeding efficiency and preventive sea-lice control, while Faroese company GroAqua supplies integrated feeding, digital monitoring and sludge-treatment systems.

Completion of the GroAqua transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals.