Biomark

What Biomark does

Biomark, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a specialized manufacturer of low-frequency RFID (Passive Integrated Transponder) systems for fish and wildlife conservation and aquaculture. Its core technology operates at 134.2 kHz with ISO FDX-B certification and ICAR registration, encompassing PIT tags in multiple sizes, handheld and stationary readers (including the IS1001 master controller), pass-by/pass-through antennas, and custom-built detection systems engineered for both aquatic and terrestrial deployments. The company also distributes VAKI aquaculture equipment (fish pumps, counters, graders, and SmartFlow software) in North America and operates professional fish-tagging services that have tagged more than 1 million fish with documented low mortality and shed rates.

Biomark's business model is sales-led and consultative, combining hardware sales, professional tagging services, custom antenna design and installation, and biological/analytical consulting (including QRF-based salmon carrying-capacity modeling). Pricing is quote-based and varies with customization and quantity, with products distributed through direct enterprise field sales in North America and Europe, a dedicated regional sales team, and the VAKI channel partnership for aquaculture. Customer segments span government agencies (NOAA Fisheries, Bonneville Power Administration, state fish and wildlife departments), research institutions (CNR IRSA, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission), nonprofit conservation organizations (Loggerhead Marinelife Center), and commercial aquaculture operators.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSD Animal Health (Merck Animal Health) — itself a division of Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) — Biomark operates within the parent's aquaculture digital products portfolio. Recent strategic activity centers on ecosystem expansion: the 2025 InfraMarker launch (jointly with Berntsen International and integrated with Esri ArcGIS) extends the company's reach into GIS-based asset tracking, while the Sea Turtle Tagging Database (2020) and QRF-based habitat analytics layer data and software value on top of the core hardware franchise.

Name

Biomark

Legal name

Biomark

Website

https://biomark.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Biomark designs and manufactures 134.2 kHz RFID PIT tags, readers, antennas, and custom detection systems for fish and wildlife conservation and aquaculture. It serves government agencies, researchers, and aquaculture operators globally as a subsidiary of MSD Animal Health (Merck).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Identification Systems

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Identification & Tracking Devices (Microchips, RFID, Tags, Scanners) (HLAMAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Livestock Identification, Traceability & Recordkeeping Services (Tagging, RFID) (AFAEALAF)

Keywords

• PIT tag systems
• RFID animal tracking
• Fish monitoring equipment
• Wildlife conservation technology
• Aquaculture identification

Headquarters

HQ city

Boise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of PIT tags, readers, antennas, implanters, and accessories. Products include various PIT tag sizes (APT12, HDX12, HPT series, Mini series), handheld and stationary readers (HPR Lite, GPR Plus), antenna systems, and power options.
2. Professional Services - Fish Tagging: Mass fish tagging services where Biomark crew tags fish for hatcheries and environmental studies. Crew of 4 can tag 5,000 fish per day using body cavity technique with single-use needles.
3. VAKI Aquaculture Equipment Distribution: Sale and service of VAKI fish pumps, counters, graders, and SmartFlow technology for North America.
4. Biological Services: Consulting services including statistical analysis, study execution, report writing, and computational model development for fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Biomark manufactures and supplies low-frequency 134.2 kHz Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags, RFID readers (handheld and stationary), and antennas for fish and wildlife identification. The company also provides supporting software, tissue sampling systems, power options, VAKI aquaculture equipment, custom antenna system design and installation, and professional fish tagging services. Its solutions serve conservation researchers, government agencies, and commercial aquaculture operators globally.

Product overview

Biomark is a specialist in electronic identification solutions for fish and wildlife conservation and aquaculture. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag products and monitoring systems. Core products include RFID PIT Tags (134.2 kHz, ISO FDX-B certified in various sizes), PIT Tag Readers (handheld and stationary including IS1001), and PIT Tag Antennas (pass-by, pass-through, floating, and custom configurations). Supporting products include implanters, needles, tissue sampling systems, power options, and accessories. The company provides software solutions including the Data Collection Module (DCM), BioLogic, Device Manager, and the Sea Turtle Tagging Database. Specialized offerings include Riverwatcher Fish Counter, VAKI Aquaculture Solutions (fish pumps, counters, graders with SmartFlow), Small Scale Monitoring Systems, and custom antenna system design/installation. Services include professional fish tagging (over 1 million fish tagged), biological services consulting, workshops, and after-sales support including warranty and repair services. The company is an Aquaculture portfolio of digital products within MSD Animal Health (Merck Animal Health).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• InfraMarker: Software solution that connects RFID-embedded animal tracking to Esri's ArcGIS for real-time visibility into fish and wildlife asset data. Developed in partnership with Berntsen International.
• Riverwatcher
• VAKI Aquaculture Solutions
• Data Collection Module (DCM)
• Biomark Device Manager
• Sea Turtle Tagging Database

Products and services

• PIT Tags Low frequency 134.2 kHz RFID Passive Integrated Transponder tags for fish and wildlife identification. ICAR registered and ISO FDX-B certified, available in multiple sizes and sterile packaging configurations.
• PIT Tag Readers - Handheld Handheld RFID readers including HPR Lite (stores up to 50,000 PIT tag codes), HPR Plus, and GPR Plus models designed for rigorous field monitoring applications.
• PIT Tag Readers - Stationary High-performance stationary RFID PIT tag readers (IS1001 Master Controller and IS1001 Reader) with low power consumption, dynamic antenna auto-tuning, and high adaptability to environmental changes.
• PIT Tag Antennas Pass-by and pass-through aquatic and terrestrial PIT tag antennas including Low Profile Circular, Low Profile Rectangular, and Low Profile Square antennas, inflatable floating antennas, rigid floating antennas, and Litz Cord Antenna systems.
• Riverwatcher Fish Counter Automated fish counter system trusted by 500 rivers worldwide for monitoring fish migration patterns.
• VAKI Aquaculture Solutions VAKI fish pumps, counters, graders, and SmartFlow technology sold and serviced by Biomark for the North American aquaculture market, enabling remote management and optimization of equipment.
• Tissue Sampling System (TSU) Easy-to-use, cost-effective genetic tissue sampling system for fish and wildlife research that enables sampling in nearly any environment without cross-contamination.
• Small Scale Monitoring Systems Cost-effective PIT tag detection system using a single reader to multiplex among up to 8 or 16 antennas, with weatherproof enclosure suitable for wind and rain and Bluetooth data logger.
• Custom PIT Tag Antenna Systems Custom design, construction, and installation service for terrestrial and aquatic PIT tag monitoring systems with nearly 30 years of experience building customized detection systems.
• Fish Tagging Services Professional mass fish PIT tagging services delivered by Biomark crews. A crew of 3-4 can tag 5,000 fish per day with 99% accurate lengths, less than 0.5% mortality rate, and less than 0.5% tag shed rate.
• Biomark Device Manager Desktop software combining BioTerm, BioStat, and Tag Manager for managing reader settings and downloading PIT tag data.
• Sea Turtle Tagging Database Free, open-access web platform for sea turtle researchers to share PIT tag data and sightings, enabling collaborative exchange of tagging information for global sea turtle conservation.
• InfraMarker Software solution that connects RFID-embedded animal tracking to Esri's ArcGIS platform, enabling real-time visibility into fish and wildlife asset data and seamless field data updates.
• Biological Services Consulting services for fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems, including statistical analysis, study execution, report writing, and computational model development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% accurate lengths measured during tagging
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Berntsen InternationalcoreTechnology or Integration · 23 October 2025Joint launch of InfraMarker software solution connecting RFID-embedded animal tracking to Esri's ArcGIS platform. Enables real-time visibility into fish and wildlife asset data with seamless field scanning and asset record updates.
• EsricoreTechnology or Integration · 23 October 2025ArcGIS connectivity through InfraMarker enabling integration of RFID tracking data into GIS mapping and analysis platforms.
• Loggerhead Marinelife CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed open-access Sea Turtle Tagging Database (www.seaturtledb.com) for sea turtle research and conservation. Partners ensure data points collected deliver value to sea turtle community including multiple tag types.
• VAKIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBiomark sells and services VAKI fish pumps, counters, graders, and SmartFlow technology for North America.
• CNR IRSA (Italian Research Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean installation on river Toce in Italy for monitoring marble trout and lake trout migration using custom antenna system.
• NOAA FisheriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of spillway PIT tag detection system, including antenna prototypes and F3001 transceiver development. System installed at Lower Granite Dam.
• Pacific States Marine Fisheries CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on testing spillway antennas at Lower Granite Dam for salmon monitoring.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Aquatic Informatics: Provider of water data management and analytics software for environmental monitoring, including fisheries. Comparable through shared customers in fisheries research and overlap with Biomark's software/data management ambitions.
• AquaScan: Manufacturer of fish counters and grading equipment used in hatcheries and aquaculture. Direct overlap with Biomark's VAKI/Riverwatcher fish counting solutions for aquaculture and conservation applications.
• Star-Oddi: Iceland-based manufacturer of miniature data storage tags and fish telemetry tags for aquatic research. Adjacent competitor in fish/wildlife monitoring, differentiated by archival and acoustic tags rather than PIT RFID.

Direct peers

• Innovasea: Provides fish tracking technology (acoustic telemetry under the VEMCO brand), aquaculture monitoring solutions, and aquatic sensor networks. Overlaps with Biomark across aquaculture and fish monitoring use cases, with complementary (rather than identical) technology.
• Trovan: Manufacturer of RFID transponders and readers used for animal identification across multiple species. Direct competitor in the low-frequency RFID animal ID category, though less specialized than Biomark in aquatic applications.
• Hallprint: Australian manufacturer of fish tags and tagging equipment including PIT tags, dart tags, and acoustic tags for fisheries research. Comparable in product type (fish tags) and target customer (fisheries researchers and managers).
• Oregon RFID: Direct competitor headquartered in the Pacific Northwest that also manufactures PIT tags, readers, and antenna systems for fish and wildlife monitoring. Most comparable peer given overlap in PIT tag technology and conservation research customer base.

Broad incumbents

• HID Global: Large, established RFID and identification technology provider serving animal ID (livestock tagging), access control, and industrial IoT. Overlaps with Biomark in animal identification RFID but operates at much broader scale across many verticals.
• Avery Dennison (Smartrac): Global RFID inlay and tag manufacturer following the Smartrac acquisition. Operates broadly across retail, industrial, and animal ID RFID; represents a large-scale incumbent that could pressure niche PIT tag economics.

Others

• ICAR (International Committee for Animal Recording): Industry body that certifies animal identification devices, including Biomark's ICAR-registered PIT tags. Not a direct competitor but a key certifying organization in the animal ID ecosystem and a relevant ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BiomarkInc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/biomarkinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/623917574343736
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biomark
• Instagraminstagram.com/biomarkinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Biomark