Open Blue

What Open Blue does

Open Blue is a sustainable aquaculture company founded in 2007 that raises Cobia whitefish in deep water open ocean mariculture operations off the Caribbean coast of Panama. The company operates the world's largest deep water open ocean farm — a 1,000-hectare enclosure located 7 miles offshore at water depths of 65-70 meters — using proprietary SeaStation technology with semi-rigid filament mesh netting (35-45kN/m tensile strength) designed to operate in harmony with natural marine surroundings. Cobia is raised in low-density, fully submerged sea stations with daily diving inspections, hydrogen peroxide parasite treatments (non-antibiotic), and laboratory-tested feed formulations free of hormones, colorants, and pesticides. The company also maintains a 2,500-acre protected 'no take' marine zone off the Caribbean coast of Panama.

The product portfolio centers on flash-frozen Cobia whitefish sold in 3lb-5lb portion boxes, burger boxes, taco strip boxes, combo boxes, and a 4lb Explorer Box, with each 4oz serving delivering approximately 1,850mg Omega-3 (1,200mg EPA and DHA) and 22g protein. Open Blue holds ASC, BAP 4-Star, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, and American Heart Association certifications, and was named SeaWeb's 2018 Sustainability Champion for Vision. The company also offers an Open Blue Virtual Reality Experience App on iOS and Android that provides 360-degree tours of the deep water farm.

Open Blue operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (with a Subscribe & Save subscription program) shipping frozen product across the continental USA, and a wholesale/B2B channel serving restaurants, distributors, chefs, and catering companies. The company is the largest employer in its region along Panama's Caribbean coast and funds 48 annual scholarships, while supporting conservation research with the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of Miami, MarAlliance, and University of Panama. Legal entity is Open Blue Sea Farms, Inc. (Delaware corporation) with operating subsidiary Open Blue Sea Farms Panamá S.A.

Name

Open Blue

Legal name

Open Blue Sea Farms, Inc.

Website

https://openblue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Open Blue is a sustainable aquaculture company that raises and sells Cobia whitefish from the world's largest deep water open ocean farm off Panama. It serves US consumers via e-commerce, subscriptions, and a wholesale program to restaurants, chefs, and distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Seafood Production

NAICS

Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Aquaculture (1125)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish) (AFAEAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH), Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing) (AFAEAAAN), Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)

Keywords

• Open ocean aquaculture
• Sustainable mariculture
• Cobia whitefish products
• Seafood direct delivery
• Wholesale fish supplier

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Open Blue sells Cobia products (portions, burgers, taco strips) directly to consumers through their e-commerce website. Products are shipped frozen directly to customers' doorsteps across the continental USA.
2. Subscription Program: Open Blue offers subscription plans for recurring deliveries of Cobia products. Customers can set up regularly scheduled deliveries and earn savings with Subscribe & Save options.
3. Wholesale B2B Sales: The company sells to wholesalers, distributors, restaurants, catering companies, and independent chefs at wholesale pricing. They offer consistent supply year-round across the US through vertical integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Open Blue raises Cobia whitefish in the world's largest deep water open ocean farm located 7 miles offshore in Panama's Caribbean waters using proprietary SeaStation submerged, low-density mariculture pens at 65-70 meters depth. The company flash-freezes and sells its Cobia harvest as portion boxes (5oz/5lb), burger boxes (3lb and 5lb), taco strip boxes (3lb and 5lb), combo/explorer boxes, and a Subscribe & Save subscription program, primarily via its own e-commerce site for U.S. consumers and through wholesale relationships with restaurants, distributors, catering companies, and chefs nationwide.

Product overview

Open Blue is a direct-to-consumer and wholesale supplier of frozen cobia whitefish products raised in open ocean farms off Panama. Their product portfolio consists of frozen seafood boxes including Cobia Portion Boxes (5lb), Cobia Burger Boxes (3lb and 5lb), Cobia Taco Strip Boxes (3lb and 5lb), Combo Boxes, and the 4lb Explorer Box. All products are flash-frozen at peak freshness and shipped directly to customers. The company also offers a Virtual Reality Experience App for immersive farm tours. Products are sold through their e-commerce platform with subscription options available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 5lb Cobia Portion Box Pre-portioned 5oz Cobia whitefish fillets, flash-frozen and shipped directly to U.S. consumers, suitable for skillet, oven, fryer preparation or sashimi.
• 5lb Cobia Burger Box 5lb box of pre-formed Cobia burger patties marketed as a beef alternative rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, sold via DTC e-commerce.
• 5lb Cobia Taco Strip Box 5lb box of pre-cut Cobia strips positioned for fish tacos, salads, and kid-friendly meals.
• 3lb Cobia Burger Box 3lb box of Cobia burger patties for smaller households or first-time DTC buyers.
• 3lb Cobia Taco Box 3lb box of pre-cut Cobia taco strips for household taco preparation.
• 4lb Explorer Box 4lb combo/discovery box containing Cobia burgers and portions, aimed at giving consumers a healthy, deep-water seafood option at every mealtime.
• Open Blue Cobia Combo Boxes Family combo boxes containing a mix of Cobia burgers, taco strips, and portions, providing variety across product types.
• Subscribe & Save Program Recurring monthly subscription program delivering Cobia products to DTC customers on a scheduled cadence with savings versus one-time purchases and the ability to skip monthly orders.
• Open Blue Virtual Reality Experience App iOS and Android mobile app providing a 360-degree virtual reality tour of Open Blue's deep water open ocean Cobia farm, used as a consumer engagement and transparency tool.
• Wholesale / B2B Cobia Supply Program B2B wholesale supply of Cobia to wholesalers, distributors, restaurants, catering companies, and chefs at wholesale pricing across the United States, with consistent year-round supply enabled by vertical integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% yield from Cobia fish
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of MiamicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Blue collaborates with leading scientific laboratories and research institutions including the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami. This partnership supports ongoing research and development in sustainable aquaculture practices and marine science.
• MarAlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Blue has partnered with MarAlliance, a local environmental group, along with the University of Panama for shark population research. Divers are trained in shark identification and building a database to track numbers and different types of sharks in the area.
• University of PanamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with University of Panama as part of ongoing shark research and marine ecosystem monitoring. Partnered with MarAlliance and Open Blue divers to track shark populations on the Caribbean coast.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pacifico Aquaculture: Pacifico Aquaculture operates an open-ocean Cobia farm in Baja California, Mexico — the closest direct competitor to Open Blue, raising the same species with a similar offshore cage model and selling into US foodservice and retail.
• The Kingfish Company: The Kingfish Company is a land-based and offshore yellowtail kingfish producer with a strong sustainability and DTC/wholesale narrative. It mirrors Open Blue's premium whitefish positioning, technology-led differentiation, and chef-driven GTM.
• Matorka: Matorka farms Arctic Char in Iceland using geothermal-heated, sustainable RAS systems and sells premium whitefish into US and European markets. It is comparable on species-niche positioning, sustainability certifications, and DTC/premium distribution.
• Australis Aquaculture: Australis is a Barramundi (Asian sea bass) aquaculture operator that vertically integrates from hatchery to branded retail/foodservice. Comparable to Open Blue as a premium, sustainably certified whitefish supplier with branded SKUs and US distribution.
• Bluehouse Salmon: Bluehouse Salmon sells sustainably farm-raised Pacific salmon direct-to-consumer with a subscription model. Comparable on branded DTC sustainable seafood, subscription GTM, and chef/endorser-led marketing playbook.
• Verlasso: Verlasso is a sustainably farmed salmon brand (a JV historically tied to AquaBounty/Mowi) sold through retail and foodservice. Comparable on premium sustainable whitefish positioning and third-party certifications driving consumer trust.
• Skuna Bay: Skuna Bay is a premium, sustainably raised Atlantic salmon brand distributed to chefs and consumers. Comparable on premium chef-driven brand, sustainability story, and packaged retail/wholesale distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Sapphire: Atlantic Sapphire is one of the largest land-based salmon producers, pursuing a similar premium sustainable salmon thesis to Open Blue's Cobia. Comparable on the broader sustainable-aquaculture narrative, though much larger and salmon-focused.
• Mowi: Mowi is the world's largest Atlantic salmon producer with integrated farming, processing, and branded sales. Comparable as a broad incumbent in sustainably certified farmed whitefish competing for the same chef and retail customers.
• SalMar: SalMar is one of the world's largest salmon farming companies, with offshore and ocean-farming exposure (via SalMar Aker Ocean). Comparable as a broad incumbent operating offshore/open-ocean finfish farms with sustainability-led positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=MSJt5z2QAKg&t=19s
• Xx.com/openbluecobia
• Facebookfacebook.com/openblueseafarms

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Open Blue