Oceano Fresco
Oceano Fresco is a Portuguese aquaculture company that operates an integrated hatchery and the world's first open-sea clam nursery to cultivate and sell native European clams and European flat oysters to premium HORECA distributors and aquaculture producers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMira, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Oceano Fresco does
Oceano Fresco is a Portuguese bivalve aquaculture company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Nazaré, operating an integrated hatchery-to-market production system for native European species. Its core technology combines the Centro BioMarinho land-based hatchery in Nazaré, where broodstock conditioning, spawning, larval culture, and seed production take place, with the world's first open-sea clam nursery located 3.5 nautical miles off Lagos in the Algarve, covering 100 hectares of Class A Atlantic waters where suspended long-line cultivation is used. The company cultivates three native European species — Amêijoa Macha (Venerupis corrugata), Amêijoa Boa (Ruditapes decussatus), and the European Flat Oyster (Ostrea edulis) — supported by scientific selective breeding programmes (EUROCLAM, SEMEAR, Tools4Breed, INOVAmêijoa) targeting disease resistance and growth performance.
The business operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market focused on premium HORECA channels in Portugal and selective European export markets. Revenue is generated through two streams: direct sales of fresh, live adult clams and oysters to premium Portuguese distributors and European partners serving restaurants, shellfish bars (marisqueiras), hotels, and fishmongers under volume-based custom commercial terms, and sales of clam seed (15–20mm) to other aquaculture producers and nurseries, with priority given to co-investing partners under pre-reservation terms. Oceano Fresco is venture capital-backed, having raised a Series A in 2018 (BlueCrow Capital), a Series B in 2021 (Aqua-Spark, Semapa NEXT), and a €17 million Series B in July 2024 led by Indico Capital Partners with BlueCrow, Aqua-Spark, and Banco Português de Fomento. The company also benefits from non-dilutive EU funding (MAR2020, EEA Grants, ATLANTICLAM, MAR2030) and was recognized as an EU Blue Champion by the European Investment Bank and European Commission in 2024.
Oceano Fresco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oceano Fresco
- Legal name
- Oceano Fresco
- Website
- https://oceano-fresco.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Oceano Fresco is a Portuguese aquaculture company that operates an integrated hatchery and the world's first open-sea clam nursery to cultivate and sell native European clams and European flat oysters to premium HORECA distributors and aquaculture producers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oceano Fresco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bivalve Aquaculture
- NAICS
- Shellfish Farming (112512), Aquaculture (1125)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) (AFAEAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH), Live Feed & Hatchery Inputs Production (Artemia, Rotifers, Copepods, Microalgae Cultures) (AFAEAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Oceano Fresco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mira
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Oceano Fresco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Adult clam and flat oyster sales (B2C/B2B): Primary revenue stream: selling mature clams (Venerupis corrugata and Ruditapes decussatus) and European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) to commercial partners. Products sold fresh and alive, serving premium HORECA (hotels, restaurants, fishmongers, marisqueiras) in Portugal and export markets across Europe. Volume-based pricing with custom terms negotiated per partnership.
- Clam seed sales to other aquaculture producers: Oceano Fresco sells clam seeds (typically 15-20mm length) to other nurseries and aquaculture producers. Requires pre-reservation and custom commercial terms. Priority given to co-investing nursery partners who develop commercial partnerships including technical information sharing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | B2B commercial partner pricing (adult clams and flat oysters) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Seed sales to aquaculture producers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Oceano Fresco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oceano Fresco cultivates and sells native European bivalves — Amêijoa Macha (Venerupis corrugata), Amêijoa Boa (Ruditapes decussatus) and European Flat Oyster (Ostrea edulis) — produced through an integrated system combining a land-based hatchery (Centro BioMarinho in Nazaré), selective breeding programmes, and the world's first 100-hectare open-sea nursery in the Algarve Atlantic. The company sells fresh adult bivalves to premium HORECA distributors and exports clam seeds (15-20mm) to other aquaculture producers.
Product overview
Oceano Fresco is a sustainable bivalve aquaculture company operating an integrated production system from hatchery to market. The company cultivates three native European bivalve species: Amêijoa-macha (Venerupis corrugata), Amêijoa-boa (Ruditapes decussatus), and Ostra Plana Europeia (Ostrea edulis). Production flows through the BioMarinho Center (hatchery/nursery in Nazaré) to the Viveiro de Mar Aberto (open sea nursery in Lagos, Algarve), producing both clam seeds for sale to other cultivators and adult bivalves for consumption. The Atlanticlam research initiative supports innovation across the value chain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Amêijoa Macha (Venerupis corrugata) Native European clam species (Venerupis corrugata) cultivated in the open-sea nursery in the Atlantic Ocean, sold fresh and live to premium HORECA distributors and European export partners. Features an oval-elongated shell with cream to brown coloring and radial concentric lines.
- Amêijoa Boa (Ruditapes decussatus) Native European clam species (Ruditapes decussatus), also known as the 'Queen clam', with a quadrangular shell contour and marked reticulation. Sold fresh and live to premium HORECA and export partners, positioned in the premium quality segment.
- Ostra Plana Europeia (Ostrea edulis) European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis), the original native oyster species of Europe, cultivated in the open-sea nursery in the Atlantic Ocean. Sold to premium HORECA and export partners with intense flavour, salty and mineral-rich profile, and velvety finish.
- Clam Seeds (Sementes de Amêijoa) Clam seeds (Venerupis corrugata and Ruditapes decussatus) typically at 15-20mm length, sold to other aquaculture producers and nurseries for further grow-out. Pre-reservation and custom commercial terms required, with priority given to co-investing nursery partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Class A water quality certification from IPMA for open-sea nursery
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Oceano Fresco
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Oceano Fresco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Oceano Fresco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- INL - Laboratório Ibérico Internacional de NanotecnologiaminorPartner in the ATLANTICLAM project alongside Oceano Fresco. INL contributes to the integrated approach for bringing native European clam species from farm to fork, focusing on scientific research and innovation in the value chain.
- Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica PortuguesaminorAcademic partner in the ATLANTICLAM project, contributing scientific expertise in biotechnology and bivalve cultivation research to support the development and introduction of innovations across the clam value chain.
- NofimaminorNorwegian research institute partner in the ATLANTICLAM project, providing expertise in food science and aquaculture research to support innovation in the native European clam value chain.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Oceano Fresco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bantry Bay Mussels: Irish rope-cultured mussel producer with established European distribution. Comparable to Oceano Fresco as a European shellfish aquaculture operator, although focused on mussels rather than clams/oysters and using a more conventional nearshore model.
- Loch Fyne Oysters: Established Scottish shellfish producer cultivating native oysters, mussels, and clams for premium UK HORECA and retail. Comparable to Oceano Fresco as a European bivalve producer focused on native species and premium positioning, though operating a more mature domestic brand.
- Guernsey Sea Farms: Channel Islands-based hatchery and nursery operation supplying Pacific and native European oyster (Ostrea edulis) seed to UK and European growers. Comparable to Oceano Fresco's hatchery and seed-sales business for native European bivalve species.
- Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group: Cooperative of Scottish shellfish growers producing mussels, oysters, and clams for UK and European markets. Comparable to Oceano Fresco as a European bivalve producer with similar species mix and multi-producer structure.
Emerging players
- The Native Oyster Company (Blue Marine Foundation): UK initiative restoring native European oyster (Ostrea edulis) populations through marine protected areas. Comparable to Oceano Fresco's native oyster restoration and commercial Ostrea edulis cultivation focus.
Broad incumbents
- Mowi: World's largest Atlantic salmon producer and a major aquaculture incumbent with growing interest in diversification including lower-trophic species. Comparable to Oceano Fresco as a publicly listed aquaculture operator with global distribution and ESG focus, though its core species is finfish.
- SalMar: Norwegian salmon aquaculture major with pioneering offshore salmon operations via SalMar Aker Ocean. Comparable to Oceano Fresco's open-sea/offshore aquaculture approach and use of selective breeding at scale, but applied to finfish rather than bivalves.
- Taylor Shellfish Farms: One of the largest shellfish producers in North America, culturing clams, oysters, mussels, and geoduck across multiple sites. Comparable to Oceano Fresco in integrated bivalve production (clams and oysters) and vertical integration, but at much larger scale.
Regional players
- Atlantic Aqua Farms: Largest mussel producer in North America, operating rope-culture and bottom-culture systems for blue mussels. Comparable to Oceano Fresco in bivalve aquaculture scale and species focus, but serving the North American market from Canada.
- Hog Island Oyster Co: Premium US West Coast oyster farm selling into HORECA and direct-to-consumer channels with strong sustainability branding. Comparable to Oceano Fresco in premium bivalve positioning and HORECA go-to-market, though focused on Pacific oyster rather than native species.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oceano Fresco social profiles
Digital presenceOceano Fresco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oceano Fresco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Oceano Fresco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oceano Fresco M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Oceano Fresco
What does Oceano Fresco do?
Oceano Fresco cultivates and sells native European bivalves — Amêijoa Macha (Venerupis corrugata), Amêijoa Boa (Ruditapes decussatus) and European Flat Oyster (Ostrea edulis) — produced through an integrated system combining a land-based hatchery (Centro BioMarinho in Nazaré), selective breeding programmes, and the world's first 100-hectare open-sea nursery in the Algarve Atlantic. The company sells fresh adult bivalves to premium HORECA distributors and exports clam seeds (15-20mm) to other aquaculture producers.
Is Oceano Fresco a public or private company?
Oceano Fresco is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Oceano Fresco founded?
Oceano Fresco was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Oceano Fresco based?
Oceano Fresco is headquartered in Mira, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Oceano Fresco make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Adult clam and flat oyster sales (B2C/B2B) is the primary driver. The others are clam seed sales to other aquaculture producers.
Who are Oceano Fresco's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bantry Bay Mussels, Loch Fyne Oysters, Guernsey Sea Farms and Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group. The Native Oyster Company (Blue Marine Foundation) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Mowi, SalMar and Taylor Shellfish Farms. Regional players are Atlantic Aqua Farms and Hog Island Oyster Co.
Does Oceano Fresco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oceano Fresco.
What industry is Oceano Fresco in?
Oceano Fresco's product category is Bivalve Aquaculture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAB, Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams), with a secondary code of AFAEAAAH, Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture. Its NAICS code is 112512 and its SIC code is 2000.