Ecocean
Ecocean is a French environmental services firm that designs and deploys nature-based solutions — Biohut® artificial nurseries, BioRestore® post-larval restocking, and floating vegetated ecosystems — to restore marine biodiversity in ports, offshore energy infrastructure, and urban waterways for enterprise, government, and energy-sector clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersMontpellier, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ecocean does
Ecocean SAS is a Montpellier-based French environmental services firm founded in 2003 that designs, deploys, and monitors nature-based solutions for the ecological restoration of aquatic environments. Its core technology portfolio centers on three product lines: Biohut® — modular artificial nurseries installed on port and marine infrastructure to recreate juvenile fish habitat; BioRestore® — a patented Post-larval Capture, Culture and Release (PCCR) process that rears wild-caught post-larval fish in captivity and reintroduces them into artificial micro-habitats; and Radeaux végétalisés (floating vegetated ecosystems) used in urban blue-infrastructure projects. Supporting services include ecological diagnostics via an approved MIR station, awareness/education modules such as Captain Game, and specialized monitoring hardware (CARE® light sensors, Fish Hotel steel modules for offshore substations).
The company serves six primary customer verticals: marinas and pleasure ports, commercial ports, developers and construction firms, local governments and municipalities, the energy sector (offshore wind, floating solar, offshore transmission), and a secondary segment of engineering prescribers and NGOs. Pricing is project-specific, based on site characteristics, number of units, and scope of monitoring, and is not publicly disclosed. Revenue is generated through professional services (assessment, design, installation, monitoring, maintenance) combined with hardware sales of Biohut modules and licensing of the BioRestore process, with international project work across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Ecocean is bootstrapped, with €2M of equity capital invested in R&D and an 11–50 employee base led by CEO Gilles Lecaillon. Its competitive position rests on registered trademarks, two decades of accumulated monitoring data (e.g., the 28-site RESPIRE network, the 10-year CasCioMar program, multi-year outcomes at Port Vauban and Port d'Agde), and embedded relationships with major counterparties including TenneT, CMA CGM, AD Ports Group, Ocean Winds, and WWF Denmark, the latter of which has integrated Ecocean's Fish Hotel module into construction standards.
Ecocean firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ecocean
- Legal name
- Ecocean SAS
- Website
- https://ecocean.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ecocean is a French environmental services firm that designs and deploys nature-based solutions — Biohut® artificial nurseries, BioRestore® post-larval restocking, and floating vegetated ecosystems — to restore marine biodiversity in ports, offshore energy infrastructure, and urban waterways for enterprise, government, and energy-sector clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ecocean industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Ecological Restoration Services
- NAICS
- Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Finfish Fishing (114111), Other Aquaculture (112519)
- SIC
- Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Stock Enhancement & Restocking / Conservation Aquaculture (AFAEAAAO)
Keywords
Where Ecocean is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montpellier
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ecocean business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Ecological Restoration Projects: Customized ecological restoration projects for ports, energy companies, municipalities, and industrial developers. Includes assessment, design, installation, monitoring, and maintenance services.
- Biohut Products and Licensing: Sale and installation of Biohut artificial nursery modules. Accompanied by long-term monitoring and ecological assessment services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Ecocean product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ecocean provides customized ecological restoration services and proprietary hardware for aquatic environments, primarily for ports, marinas, energy developers (offshore wind, floating solar), local governments, and coastal developers. Its core products are Biohut® artificial fish nursery habitats, BioRestore® post-larval capture-and-release restocking, and floating vegetated ecosystems, delivered as full-lifecycle projects that include ecological diagnostics, design, installation, and long-term monitoring.
Product overview
Ecocean offers a portfolio of ecological restoration products and services focused on aquatic environments. The core products include Biohut® (artificial nursery habitats for restoring marine ecological functions in developed areas), BioRestore® (a Post-larval Capture, Culture and Release process for fish restocking), and Radeaux végétalisés (floating vegetated ecosystems for urban biodiversity). These are complemented by diagnostic assessment services and awareness/sensitization solutions. The company also provides specialized products like Captain Game (environmental education trails) and CARE (light sensor monitoring equipment) as add-on offerings. Biohut modules are available in various forms including pontoon, dock, dike, sphere, and tower configurations, while Fish Hotel modules bundle multiple Biohuts into steel structures for offshore applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Biohut®: Artificial nursery designed to restore ecological functions of developed/aquatic areas
- BioRestore®
- Radeaux végétalisés
- CARE®
- Captain Game
- Fish Hotel
Products and services
- Biohut® Artificial nursery module designed to restore the ecological functions of developed or artificialized aquatic zones. Installed on port structures (pontoons, docks, dikes, mooring buoys, spheres, towers), it provides submerged habitat for juvenile fish and marine biodiversity. Sold and deployed as part of customized port biodiversity projects.
- BioRestore® Ecological restoration process applying the Post-larval Capture, Culture and Release (PCCR) method. Captures post-larval fish, rears them in captivity without domestication until juvenile stage, then reintroduces them near natural habitats using artificial microhabitats. Delivered as a service engagement for local authorities, industrial developers, and coastal planners.
- Radeaux végétalisés (Floating Vegetated Ecosystems) Floating ecosystem of vegetated rafts planted with local species adapted to water environments, providing favorable zones for terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in urban areas. Deployed as part of blue infrastructure projects for local governments and municipalities.
- Diagnostic (Ecological Assessment) Technical and ecological assessment service analyzing site characteristics, operational zones, traffic patterns, and infrastructure to identify suitable locations for ecological solutions and anticipate environmental constraints. Delivered to ports, developers, energy firms, and municipalities as a standalone engagement or as part of broader restoration projects.
- Sensibilisation (Awareness and Communication Services) Communication tools and awareness-raising services that promote ecological restoration efforts, including educational materials, activities, and events to engage port users, schoolchildren, and the public. Sold as a value-add to restoration projects or as standalone engagement.
- Captain Game Environmental education trail consisting of interactive stations with multiple-choice questions about local biodiversity, designed to raise public awareness about aquatic ecosystems. Delivered to municipalities as part of urban biodiversity projects.
- CARE® (Light-sensor post-larval capture gear) Light-sensor fishing gear for capturing and monitoring fish post-larvae, deployed in BioRestore restocking projects and standardized larval-recruitment observation networks. Provided as part of BioRestore engagements and scientific monitoring programs.
- Fish Hotel Steel structure incorporating multiple Biohut® modules designed to encourage colonization by marine life, installed on offshore electrical substations and marine infrastructure to enhance habitat functions. Sold and deployed for offshore wind and energy-sector projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70% survival rate after restocking vs 1-2% in disturbed natural habitats; 4-56x increase in juvenile fish survival
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ecocean
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Ecocean technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Ecocean partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, academic, regional, innovation and supporting.
- CAIPIMcoreNetwork for Small Mediterranean Islands and Macaronesia. Ecocean monitors fish post-larvae using CARE gear across 10 islands in 7 countries.
- AD Ports GroupflagshipAbu Dhabi Ports Authority subsidiary. Partner for Khalifa Industrial Port pilot project with 48 Biohut units.
- CMA CGM GroupflagshipShipping giant committed to biodiversity restoration. Partner for Khalifa Port project as part of 'Acting for the Planet' sustainability commitments.
- VINCI ConstructioncoreConstruction partner for Brest marine renewable energy pier extension project.
- WWF DenmarkflagshipFive-year renewable partnership for Port of Copenhagen ecological restoration including Biohut installation, floating ecosystems, and public awareness campaigns.
- Aarhus UniversityacademicScientific partner for Aarhus Havn project. Marine biology master's students monitored Biohuts over two years.
- Sulubaaï FoundationflagshipPhilippines-based foundation. Long-term partnership since 2021 for BioRestore technology transfer to support small-scale fishermen and marine protected areas.
- Ocean WindsflagshipOffshore wind developer partner for EFGL floating wind project. 8-year collaboration integrating Biohut units into floating wind turbine structures. Ocean Winds won the tender in 2017.
- Agence de l'eau Rhône-Méditerranée-CorsecoreWater agency partner for Mediterranean coastal restoration projects including the marine nursery restoration plan.
- Région OccitanieregionalRegional government partner supporting innovation projects in the Occitanie region.
- Région Sud - Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'AzurregionalRegional government partner for ecological restoration projects in southern France.
- CDC BiodiversitécoreSubsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts focused on biodiversity. Key partner for CasCioMar and other ecological restoration projects.
- TenneTcoreDutch-German transmission system operator. Fish Hotel project integrating Biohut modules into offshore electrical substations. Solution now incorporated into TenneT's construction standards.
- Principle PowercoreTechnology partner for WindFloat floating wind turbine design, collaborating on eco-design of floats for EFGL project.
- Eiffage Metal / Eiffage SmulderscoreConstruction partner responsible for float assembly at Fos-sur-Mer site for EFGL project.
- Andromède OcéanologiecorePartner for OP Coral project handling underwater collection and restocking phases using deep-sea diving expertise.
- ArcelorMittalinnovationSteel industry partner for DELTAMAR project studying converter steel slag for marine applications.
- Pôle Mer MéditerranéeregionalCompetitiveness cluster supporting maritime innovation projects including DELTAMAR.
- OcergyinnovationTechnology partner for ConnexStere project with OCG-DATA buoy deployed 30km offshore.
- CREMinnovationResearch partner for ConnexStere project studying offshore biodiversity.
- CNRScoreFrench National Center for Scientific Research collaborating on ConnexStere and other research projects.
- Université de PerpignancoreAcademic partner for RESPIRE monitoring network and ConnexStere project.
- By&HavncorePort operator for Copenhagen collaborating with WWF Denmark on ecological restoration.
- IdraBiosupportingLocal consulting firm partnering on ecological monitoring for Brest project.
- BiotopesupportingLocal consulting firm conducting ecological surveys for Martinique eco-friendly mooring buoys project.
- GroenLevencoreDeveloper partner for Bomhofsplas Solar Farm project in Netherlands installing Biohut units beneath floating photovoltaic platform.
- RTEcoreFrench electricity transmission network operator. Partner for CEM FISH project developing EMF-generating coils for electromagnetic field experiments.
- Université de BristolacademicAcademic partner for CEM FISH project developing experimental protocols and data analysis.
- Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN)academicFrench natural history museum collaborating on CEM FISH electromagnetic field impact research.
- Initiative PIMcoreInitiative for Small Mediterranean Islands supporting CAIPIM project for biodiversity knowledge and management.
- Conservatoire du littoralcoreFrench coastal conservatory partner for CAIPIM project managing small Mediterranean islands.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ecocean competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ECOncrete Tech Ltd: Israel-based developer of bio-enhancing concrete solutions for marine coastal and underwater infrastructure. Directly comparable to Ecocean as both companies sell proprietary nature-based solutions designed to integrate with ports, energy infrastructure, and coastal construction to restore marine habitat.
- ARC Marine: UK-based company producing artificial reef structures (Reef Cubes, Arc Reefs) for marine habitat restoration around ports, offshore energy, and coastal infrastructure. Closely comparable product offering and target customer base to Ecocean's Biohut and Fish Hotel products.
- Reef Design Lab: Australian designer and manufacturer of artificial reefs and marine habitat structures for coastal infrastructure, ports, and offshore developments. Directly comparable niche player in marine ecological engineering with similar engineering and ecological validation approach.
- Living Seawalls: Australian/Singaporean company producing modular habitat panels for seawalls and marine infrastructure to restore biodiversity in urbanized coastal environments. Same problem space as Ecocean (habitat loss in artificialized marine zones) with similar marine-infrastructure customer base.
- Mars Reef Solutions: Australian company developing reef restoration solutions for coastal defense and marine biodiversity, including artificial reef modules for ports and breakwaters. Comparable niche specialist focused on integrating ecological restoration with marine infrastructure.
Emerging players
- BioFab Inc. US-based company focused on oyster reef restoration and living shoreline solutions for coastal resilience. Comparable in the broader habitat restoration theme but focused on shellfish reefs and US coastal markets rather than Ecocean's Mediterranean-centric Biohut approach.
- Nature Based Solutions Inc: US-based provider of nature-based coastal infrastructure including living shorelines and oyster reef construction. Shares Ecocean's nature-based solutions positioning and marine restoration focus but operates regionally in North America with a different species and regulatory framework.
Broad incumbents
- Tetra Tech: Global environmental consulting and engineering firm with extensive marine and coastal restoration practice. Larger incumbent that often delivers the engineering and permitting scope for the same port/energy customers Ecocean targets, making it both a partner and a competitive threat.
- WSP Global: Global engineering consultancy with substantial marine ecology and environmental impact assessment capabilities serving ports and offshore wind developers. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering related but more generalist ecological and engineering services.
- COWI: Danish-headquartered engineering consultancy with deep offshore wind and marine infrastructure expertise. Operates in the same European market as Ecocean with overlapping customer base (offshore wind developers, port authorities) but as a broad engineering firm rather than ecology specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ecocean social profiles
Digital presenceEcocean financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ecocean leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ecocean funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ecocean 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 Ecocean
What does Ecocean do?
Ecocean provides customized ecological restoration services and proprietary hardware for aquatic environments, primarily for ports, marinas, energy developers (offshore wind, floating solar), local governments, and coastal developers. Its core products are Biohut® artificial fish nursery habitats, BioRestore® post-larval capture-and-release restocking, and floating vegetated ecosystems, delivered as full-lifecycle projects that include ecological diagnostics, design, installation, and long-term monitoring.
Is Ecocean a public or private company?
Ecocean is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ecocean founded?
Ecocean was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ecocean based?
Ecocean is headquartered in Montpellier, France, in the Europe region.
How does Ecocean make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Ecological Restoration Projects are the primary driver. The others are biohut Products and Licensing.
Who are Ecocean's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ECOncrete Tech Ltd, ARC Marine, Reef Design Lab, Living Seawalls and Mars Reef Solutions. Emerging players are BioFab Inc. and Nature Based Solutions Inc. Broad incumbents are Tetra Tech, WSP Global and COWI.
Does Ecocean have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ecocean.
What industry is Ecocean in?
Ecocean's product category is Marine Ecological Restoration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAO, Stock Enhancement & Restocking / Conservation Aquaculture. Its NAICS code is 112511 and its SIC code is 900.