Australis Aquaculture
Australis Aquaculture is a privately held, vertically-integrated producer of ocean-farmed barramundi sold under The Better Fish® brand, operating the world's largest barramundi sea farm in Van Phong Bay, Vietnam and serving U.S. retail, foodservice, and D2C channels plus select international markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersGreenfield, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Australis Aquaculture does
Australis Aquaculture LLC is a privately held, vertically-integrated barramundi (Lates calcarifer) producer founded in 2004 by Josh Goldman. The company operates the world's largest barramundi ocean farm on a sea-lease in Van Phong Bay, Central Vietnam, controlling the production chain from hatchery through ocean grow-out to processing, with Fair Trade, ASC, and 4-Star BAP certifications. Its headquarters is in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and it markets consumer products under the registered "The Better Fish®" brand. After divesting its original land-based Turners Falls, Massachusetts recirculating aquaculture facility in 2018, the company concentrates exclusively on its Vietnam ocean operation.
The product portfolio centers on flash-frozen barramundi, processed via a patented Japanese belt freezer that chills fillets to -30°F in under 10 minutes. Core SKUs include raw formats (Simply Skinless, Simply Skin-on) and value-added preparations (Crispy Fish Tenders, Lemon Herb Butter, Tuscan Herb Butter, Garlic Teriyaki, plus a 2025 Lemon Herb Butter Club Pack for foodservice and club retailers). Go-to-market is multi-channel: U.S. retail grocery (notably Whole Foods), direct-to-consumer through Amazon, Instacart, QVC, and Fulton Fish Market, a dedicated foodservice wholesale team targeting restaurants, and international distribution under the Clean Harvest brand in Australia plus partners in Singapore and Hong Kong. Unit pricing is set at retail; wholesale pricing is opaque and engaged via a dedicated sales contact.
The business is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, parent entities, or revenue figures, and operates with a 101–250 employee headcount. Its stated differentiation rests on sustainability certifications, a sub-1:1 Fish-in:Fish-out ratio, mercury levels averaging 0.02 ppm versus the FDA 1 ppm limit, and 650 mg combined EPA/DHA omega-3s per 4 oz serving. The company commenced construction on an advanced Vietnam processing facility in 2025 and holds partnerships with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, SeaWeb, and WWF Aquaculture Stewardship Council, in addition to receiving the U.S. Secretary's Award for Corporate Excellence in 2021.
Australis Aquaculture firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Australis Aquaculture
- Legal name
- Australis Aquaculture LLC
- Website
- https://thebetterfish.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Australis Aquaculture is a privately held, vertically-integrated producer of ocean-farmed barramundi sold under The Better Fish® brand, operating the world's largest barramundi sea farm in Van Phong Bay, Vietnam and serving U.S. retail, foodservice, and D2C channels plus select international markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Australis Aquaculture industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Aquaculture Seafood
- NAICS
- Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171)
- 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)
Keywords
Where Australis Aquaculture is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Australis Aquaculture business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consumer Retail Products: Sells branded barramundi products directly to consumers through retail grocery stores and online marketplaces. Products include Simply Skinless, Crispy Fish Tenders, Lemon Herb Butter, Tuscan Herb Butter, and Garlic Teriyaki varieties. Frozen format distributed nationwide.
- Foodservice/Restaurant Sales: Supplies barramundi to restaurants and foodservice operators nationwide through dedicated wholesale sales team. Products sold in bulk formats suitable for professional kitchens.
- International Distribution: Bulk products available to chefs and caterers in Australia under the Clean Harvest brand. Retail and bulk products distributed in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail consumer pricing through grocery stores and online marketplaces |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
Australis Aquaculture product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Australis Aquaculture is the world's largest producer of barramundi, operating a vertically-integrated ocean farm in Van Phong Bay, Central Vietnam. The company produces and distributes The Better Fish® brand of frozen barramundi products (fillets, tenders, and flavored varieties) through U.S. retail grocery, online marketplaces, restaurant wholesale channels, and select international markets.
Product overview
Australis Aquaculture operates as a vertically-integrated barramundi aquaculture company producing The Better Fish® brand of frozen seafood products. The product portfolio centers on ocean-farmed barramundi (Lates calcarifer) sold under the The Better Fish® trademark. The core offerings include raw frozen products (Simply Skinless and Simply Skin-on) as well as value-added preparations with flavor profiles (Crispy Fish Tenders, Lemon Herb Butter, Tuscan Herb Butter, and Garlic Teriyaki). Products are sold in retail packaging (12 oz and club/foodservice sizes) and distributed through major U.S. retailers, online marketplaces (Amazon, Instacart, Fulton Fish Market, QVC), and foodservice channels. The company pioneered flash-freezing technology to preserve harvest-fresh quality, with products typically having a two-year freezer shelf life.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Simply Skinless Barramundi
Quantifiable outcome
- Fish-in:Fish-out ratio less than 1:1 - produces more edible fish than used as feed
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Australis Aquaculture
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Australis Aquaculture technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Australis Aquaculture partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood WatchcoreCollaboration with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program for ocean conservation. Australis works with leading ocean conservation organizations including SeaWeb and WWF Aquaculture Stewardship Council to ensure barramundi is part of sustainable food solutions.
- SeaWebcorePartner with SeaWeb, a leading ocean conservation organization, supporting sustainable seafood industry transformation.
- WWF Aquaculture Stewardship CouncilcoreCollaboration with WWF Aquaculture Stewardship Council to advance sustainable aquaculture practices and ensure barramundi contributes to food system sustainability.
- Clean HarvestregionalClean Harvest brand distributes Australis bulk barramundi products to chefs and caterers in Australia. This is the exclusive brand partner for foodservice distribution in the Australian market.
- GreenerGrazingminorOne-of-a-kind seaweed integration project specifically designed to combat ocean acidification and reduce methane emissions from ruminant animal production. Visit GreenerGrazing.org for more information.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Australis Aquaculture competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Huon Aquaculture: Australian salmon and ocean trout producer (now part of JBS). Competes with Australis' Australian Clean Harvest distribution for premium aquaculture share in Australian foodservice and retail channels.
Direct peers
- MainStream Aquaculture: Australia-based barramundi producer and one of Australis' principal direct competitors. Both companies farm the same species for global retail and foodservice markets, making MainStream the closest comparable in species, geography of demand, and product positioning.
- Barramundi Group: Singapore-listed barramundi aquaculture operator with farms in Australia and Brunei. Competes with Australis in the same species across overlapping Asia-Pacific foodservice and retail channels.
- Regal Springs: Vertically-integrated tilapia and pangasius producer operating large-scale freshwater aquaculture in tropical geographies. Comparable to Australis in vertical integration, ESG-certification strategy, and U.S. retail distribution of responsibly-farmed white fish.
Broad incumbents
- Mowi ASA: World's largest Atlantic salmon producer with vertically-integrated farming, processing, and value-added branded sales. Sets the benchmark for scale aquaculture economics and competes with barramundi for the same white-fish/health-conscious consumer occasions.
- Cermaq: Global salmon producer (Mitsubishi-owned) with ASC-certified operations. Comparable to Australis as a large, sustainability-certified aquaculture incumbent supplying retail and foodservice channels with premium farmed finfish.
- SalMar: Norwegian salmon farming major with both ocean and land-based (Salmon Evolution) operations. Comparable to Australis as a publicly-listed, vertically-integrated finfish producer scaling into offshore and technology-driven farming.
Emerging players
- Atlantic Sapphire: Land-based salmon producer pioneering recirculating aquaculture at industrial scale. Comparable to Australis' original RAS roots and its push into technology-driven, climate-resilient finfish production, though Atlantic Sapphire has faced significant operational setbacks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Australis Aquaculture social profiles
Digital presenceAustralis Aquaculture compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Australis Aquaculture financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Australis Aquaculture leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Australis Aquaculture funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Australis Aquaculture 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 Australis Aquaculture
What does Australis Aquaculture do?
Australis Aquaculture is the world's largest producer of barramundi, operating a vertically-integrated ocean farm in Van Phong Bay, Central Vietnam. The company produces and distributes The Better Fish® brand of frozen barramundi products (fillets, tenders, and flavored varieties) through U.S. retail grocery, online marketplaces, restaurant wholesale channels, and select international markets.
Is Australis Aquaculture a public or private company?
Australis Aquaculture is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Australis Aquaculture founded?
Australis Aquaculture was founded in 2004. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Australis Aquaculture based?
Australis Aquaculture is headquartered in Greenfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Australis Aquaculture make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consumer Retail Products are the primary driver. The others are foodservice/Restaurant Sales and international Distribution.
Who are Australis Aquaculture's main competitors?
Huon Aquaculture is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are MainStream Aquaculture, Barramundi Group and Regal Springs. Broad incumbents are Mowi ASA, Cermaq and SalMar. Atlantic Sapphire is listed as an emerging player.
Does Australis Aquaculture have an API?
No public API is recorded for Australis Aquaculture.
What industry is Australis Aquaculture in?
Australis Aquaculture's product category is Sustainable Aquaculture Seafood. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAA, Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish), with a secondary code of AFAEAAAH, Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture. Its NAICS code is 112511 and its SIC code is 2092.