Oysterworld III

Innovative production material and methods for sustainable oyster farming

Investment overview

Impact category

Blue economy

Investment type

Loan

Yearly interest

5.2

Term

months

Risk level

What will you be financing?

Oysterworld aims to increase its production capacity to 360 tonnes / year, trough an investment in innovative production material and methods of oyster farming.

The Project needs a global investment of €2.1M to be topped between the years of 2019 and 2020. This investment will be mostly funded by a fund of outright grants called MAR2020, in the amount of €1.07M, the remnant funds will be granted by the company's own capital and through crowdlending.

After the successful funding of Oysterworld I and II, 700.000€ (31% of the total investment) has already been invested and implemented: the cleaning row was acquired, the sorting and calibration of the oysters and the warehouse construction are done, and the photovoltaic panels that generate energy for the whole operation is operating.

This third stage of the investment hopes to complement and fasten the other components, like:

(i) Production equipment (Hexcyl Bags)- The bags and tables are necessary to accommodate the oyster growing.

(ii) Soil transactions

(iii) Floodgates

(iv) Supporting equipment (mini-dredge, backhoe, oysters tables and sizing machine)

(v) Payment of the selector- The selector is an essential investment in the oyster farming which enables the separation of the product by weight (calibers)

What is the impact?

The oyster extraction sector is mainly settled in traditional techniques and intensive labour and that is why Oysterworld, which positions itself as one of the most innovative in the sector in Portugal, is looking to use new technological methods which, not only will assure its competitiveness in a growing market, but also ensure better work conditions and a better product.

This project has a very positive social and environmental impact contributing to:

Sustainable production and consumption: Oyster farming has a positive impact in the marine environment, as it improves water quality by acting as a filter (a single oyster filters on average 55 litres of water a day), it reduces the need for extractive fishing and it does not interfere with the natural stocks.
Gender equality: the fishing labour sector is mainly occupied by men. This is mainly due to the low level of mechanization and automation that requires the use of strength. This project opens doors for hiring women. In fact, 50% of Oysterworld’s current employees are women.
Better working conditions: the tasks required for oyster production are physically challenging, often leading to injuries, skin burns, other wounds or physical exhaustion. The improvements brought by this technique will reduce the employees’ physical exhaustion, increasing their productivity. Also, the company pays salaries above the average within the sector.
Community sustainability: the people in the surrounding communities mostly work in seasonal jobs, connected to agriculture. Oyster production is supplying a steady job.

“This is a unique project that combines the positive environmental impact with the growth of a value-added industry, with potential for export and job creation in local communities", explains Nuno Brito Jorge, CEO of Goparity.

Impact indicators
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CO2 avoided per year

clean energy

created by our projects

of sustainable

impacted

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
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About the Promoter

About

OYSTERWORLD, LDA.

This project has a very positive social and environmental impact contributing to:

Sustainable production and consumption: Oyster farming has a positive impact in the marine environment, as it improves water quality by acting as a filter (a single oyster filters on average 55 litres of water a day), it reduces the need for extractive fishing and it does not interfere with the natural stocks.
Gender equality: the fishing labour sector is mainly occupied by men. This is mainly due to the low level of mechanization and automation that requires the use of strength. This project opens doors for hiring women. In fact, 50% of Oysterworld’s current employees are women.
Better working conditions: the tasks required for oyster production are physically challenging, often leading to injuries, skin burns, other wounds or physical exhaustion. The improvements brought by this technique will reduce the employees’ physical exhaustion, increasing their productivity. Also, the company pays salaries above the average within the sector.
Community sustainability: the people in the surrounding communities mostly work in seasonal jobs, connected to agriculture. Oyster production is supplying a steady job.

Promoter website

http://oysterworld.pt/

Team
‍

[{"id":233,"promoter_id":115,"name":"Francisco Bernardino","description":"Francisco has a master's degree in Marine Biology and has spent his entire career in the sector, undertaking various consulting projects and participating in 2 aquaculture startups. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to develop offshore production projects for both bivalves and fish, conduct aquaculture feasibility studies, and design oyster production circuits, among other projects. It is also noteworthy that Francisco has 11 years of experience at the Directorate General of Fisheries (currently DGRM) as a senior aquaculture technician, and has represented Portugal's interests before the European Commission.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscobernardino","role":"Founder and Head of Production","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/668/47d/9ce/66847d9ce912d701224217.jpeg","avatar_id":147732}]

Business Model
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