Oceano Fresco VI

The first open sea off-shore clam farm in the world.

Resumen de la inversión

Categoría de impacto

Economía azul

Tipo de inversión

Préstamo

Interés anual

5.5

Plazo

meses

Nivel de riesgo

B-

Oceano Fresco's mission is to contribute to a more sustainable food production, by producing high-quality bivalve species through science-driven aquaculture in a pioneer project in Europe. This is the promoter’s sixth campaign through Goparity, after successfully raising a total amount of € 600.000€, since 2020.

In August 2020, Oceano Fresco started the clam seeds cultivation in a new world-class Biomarine Center in Nazaré that integrates a bivalve hatchery, R&D laboratories, and the company's offices.

In June 2020, it has concluded the setup of the first off-shore clam farm in the world, occupying 100 hectares, in the south of Portugal, 5 km from Lagos/Alvor coast (Algarve), fundamental to completing the biological cultivation cycle.

The amount raised in the previous campaigns has been used to order cables, chains, concrete blocks, buoys, and lanterns needed to set up the farm and begin exploration. Since then, the company has also bought a twelve-meter boat, that has been improved in Penimar, a shipyard in Peniche, and is in the company’s harbor in Lagos since January 2021.

On top of this, it is building a 22-meter boat in the same shipyard.

At the moment, Oceano Fresco has 2,5 million clam seeds ready to be sent to the off-shore farm in Algarve, which is expected to happen until the end of this month.

The structure of the clam farm is composed of submersed horizontal cables, on which lanterns (plates wrapped in a mesh) will be placed and where the clams will be cultivated.

The off-shore farm is fundamental to complete the biological cycle because, after the spawning and hatchery phase, clams need to grow-out until the adult edible size. At the farm, the clams find the perfect conditions to complete the cycle, with a natural source of food and perfect environmental conditions.

¿Cuál es el impacto?

Ecosystems provide essential services such as food, freshwater, clean air, and shelter. They mitigate natural disasters, pests, and diseases and help regulate the climate. It is predicted that food production must double by 2050 to meet the demand from the world’s growing population. A sustainable blue economy’ will play a central role in alleviating the multiple demands on land resources and in tackling climate change. The sector can contribute by promoting sustainable use of aquatic and marine resources and by providing an alternative source of protein that can relieve pressure on agricultural land.

The cultivation of clams is one of the most sustainable alternative sources of protein used nowadays with less environmental impact. This project will therefore have the following impact:

Once installed, the offshore farm will have the capacity to capture 266,73 tonnes of CO2 per year, based on an estimated annual production of 600 tons of clams. The cultivation of clams is one of the most sustainable alternative sources of protein used nowadays, with less environmental impact, as no chemicals or artificial feeds are used; as they have a filtering function fighting aquatic pollution; and as they capture CO2 in their shell formation;
By providing an alternative source of protein, the sustainable cultivation of clams will not only contribute to alleviating the multiple demands on land resources, but also to restoring marine resources and the seas’ biodiversity, by being an alternative to intensive fishing.
At the moment, Oceano Fresco is constituted by 17 people. When the farm’s operation starts, an increase in staff to 100 people is forecasted in the upcoming years.

This project will also have a positive indirect impact on the local economy, mainly in the area where the farm is installed, Lagos by increasing the incomes of the people who work in this sector.

Click here to read the article "Can the ocean feed us sustainably?" written by Rodrigo Clímaco, responsible for the clam farm of Oceano Fresco.

Indicadores de impacto
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44450

CO2 avoided per year

jobs

created by our projects

hectars

of sustainable water and land management

Contribución a los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible
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Sobre el promotor

About

Oceano Fresco S.A.

La empresa desarrolla y comercializa bivalvos de alto valor, utilizando métodos modernos de acuicultura y una sólida base científica para convertirse en el actor de referencia en esta industria mundial altamente sostenible y en crecimiento. El lema de la empresa es "Liberar el potencial de los mariscos a través de la acuicultura impulsada por la ciencia" y está dirigida por un Consejo de Administración de 5 directores que combinan la cría de plantas y peces con la experiencia empresarial, incluyendo el lanzamiento y la ampliación de empresas de nueva creación. Cuentan con el apoyo de un equipo operativo cada vez más numeroso (40 personas) que se ocupa de la I+D, la producción y el negocio, así como de un Consejo Asesor de 2 personas con expertos en cría de renombre mundial.

La empresa ha construido un Centro BioMarino de última generación, que incluye un criadero, laboratorios y oficinas en el centro de Portugal, así como una granja marina de 100 hectáreas en la costa de la región del Algarve. Con estos activos poco comunes y complementarios, la empresa aplicará métodos avanzados de selección y cría de especies de almejas autóctonas europeas de alto valor nutricional y comercial, que actualmente están siendo sustituidas en el mercado por sus homólogas asiáticas de bajo valor organoléptico.

La empresa se enorgullece de los siguientes hitos:

(2015-2016) Condujo una investigación de campo en países claves de acuicultura, lo que confirmó el potencial de mercado;
(2015 en adelante) Contrató a un equipo altamente calificado con mucha experiencia para la producción y el negocio;
(2016-2017) Completó la prueba de concepto de proyectos, lo que confirmó la viabilidad del modelo empresarial;
(2018) Firmó una concesión de 25 años del arrendamiento del terreno para la ubicación del centro bio marino;
(2018) Obtivo todas las licencias necesarias de las autoridades para operar el vivero;
(2020) Construyó el centro Bio Marino de última generación, que incluye una incubadora, laboratorios y oficinas;
(2018) Obtuvo una concesión de 25 años y 103ha para el vivero en alta mar con licencia completa;
(2020) Estableció la infraestructura física para operar el vivero;
(2018) Desarrolló un plan de incubación para R. decussatus;
(2018) Estableció un DBO de 5 miembros que une la cría de plantas y peces con la experiencia empresarial;
(2015 en adelante) Se le otorgó €3.5 millones de subsidios portugueses y de la Unión Europea;
Obtuvo 7,5 millones de euros en varias rondas de inversión entre 2018 y 2020, por inversores institucionales e individuales;
(2020) Compra de barco de 12 metros;
(2021) 2,5 millones de semillas de almejas listas para cultivar;
(2021)Inicio del proceso de engorde de semillas, en el mar, en el Algarve.
(2022) Lanzamiento del nuevo barco Oceano Fresco I y construcción del centro de envasado y expedición.
(2023) Refuerzo de la inversión en I+D+i, incluyendo proyectos clave como Atlanticlam y Blue Bioeconomy Pact
(2024) Reconocimiento como «EU Blue Champion» por el Banco Europeo de Inversiones y la Comisión Europea en el contexto de las misiones de la UE para restaurar nuestros océanos y aguas, y cierre de la serie de inversiones por parte de Indico Capital Partners, BPF, BlueCrow y AquaSpark.
(2025) Primera cosecha y venta de ostras planas adultas.

Sitio web del promotor

http://www.oceano-fresco.pt/

Equipo

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Modelo de negocio
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