Blue Revolution Fund secures US$100M to transform aquaculture for a sustainable future

IRELAND – The Blue Revolution Fund (BRF), a pioneering aquaculture impact investment initiative created by Hatch Blue and advised by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has successfully closed with €93 (US$100.4) million in commitments. 

This funding, which exceeds the initial €75 (US$81) million target, will enable BRF to accelerate sustainable practices across the aquaculture industry, targeting climate resilience, ocean health, and coastal community support.

Robert Jones, Director of Global Aquatic Food Systems at TNC, emphasised aquaculture’s transformative potential when implemented with sustainable practices, stating, “With the right practices and technologies, aquaculture can be a force for good, providing a low-carbon food source while actively supporting ocean health.” 

BRF’s strategic investments will propel technology and farming innovations that align with the fund’s “nature-positive” objectives.

BRF’s investment structure is unique, blending financial and environmental outcomes. Hatch Blue, renowned for its aquaculture expertise and fund management capabilities, will manage BRF’s investments across various sustainable aquaculture solutions, from next-generation fish farms to innovative feed ingredients.

“Our setup generates unique insights that allow us to add value to our portfolio firms, investors, and other clients,” said Georg Baunach, Hatch Blue’s cofounder and managing partner.

Some of BRF’s early investments include:

CageEye (formerly Bluegrove): Norwegian technology that uses echo-sounding to optimise fish feeding, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

ChucaoTec: An Irish-Chilean venture advancing oxygenation technology for salmon and shrimp farming, using nanobubble technology to reduce resource consumption.

DeNova: A Canadian company producing single-cell protein, providing a sustainable alternative to soy and fishmeal in aquafeed.

New School Foods: This Canada-based company is pioneering plant-based seafood alternatives with familiar cooking experiences and textures.

Peptobiotics: A biotechnology company in Singapore developing antimicrobial peptides to improve shrimp health and reduce antibiotic dependency.

Whole chain: A US-based traceability provider enhancing supply chain transparency for various protein and nonprotein products.

BRF’s investment focuses on nutrition, health, genetics, and technologies that enhance feed efficiency and support environmental goals. 

According to Baunach, “Technologies that improve feed conversion ratios or survival rates are highly attractive, given the current surge in input costs and their alignment with reducing Scope 3 emissions.”

TNC, serving as BRF’s conservation manager, will oversee the fund’s environmental integrity. Lauren Ferstandig, managing director of NatureVest at TNC, underscored the fund’s scalable approach to balancing financial returns with conservation, noting, 

“The Blue Revolution Fund is an example of a scalable investment solution that models a more sustainable approach to aquaculture by building measurable conservation outcomes into every investment.”

BRF plans to invest in nine additional companies in the coming months. By early next year, Hatch Blue and TNC will release pre-investment conservation guidance and portfolio impact resources to encourage similar impact-focused investments within the aquaculture industry.

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