What AquaBioTech Group does

AquaBioTech Group (legal entity AquaBioTech Limited) is a Malta-based, founder-led aquaculture, fisheries, and marine environmental consulting and engineering firm founded in 1998. The company operates five integrated service lines organized as sub-brands: ABT Aquaculture (environmental, technical, and financial consultancy), ABT RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems engineering and design), ABT Innovia (contract research and fish nutrition/health trials), ABT Fisheries (resource assessment, conservation, and sustainable practices), and ABT Marine (marine environmental consulting, surveying, and GIS). The company has built proprietary monitoring and intelligent feeding technologies — iBOSS, Fish-Talk-To-Me, and SmartRAS — through EU-funded research projects, with iFishIENCi as a flagship 16-partner Horizon 2020 consortium coordinated by AquaBioTech Group.

The company's business model is project-based professional services revenue, with all five streams priced on a quote-by-project basis. It serves a primarily B2G/B2B client base including national governments (Oman, Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), EU-funded research consortiums (Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe), multilateral institutions (World Bank), and private aquaculture operators (VikingAqua, NTT Green & Food). Over 90 staff from 34+ nationalities operating in 16 languages enable project delivery across 57+ countries. The firm's go-to-market is consultative, enterprise field sales driven by direct business development, EU research consortium participation, and presence at industry events such as Aquaculture Europe.

AquaBioTech Group is headquartered in Mosta, Malta, at a licensed facility with 30+ testing bays for fish health and nutritional studies. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors, has won multiple industry awards (Middle East Aquaculture Innovation Award 2017, European Business Awards International Expansion 2018, Horizon 2020 Best Technology Innovation 2021), and continues to expand its geographic footprint through partnerships in East Asia (Japan), the Middle East (Oman), and East Africa.

Name

AquaBioTech Group

Legal name

AquaBioTech Limited

Website

https://aquabt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AquaBioTech Group is a Malta-based consulting and engineering firm that delivers aquaculture, fisheries, and marine environmental services to governments, EU research consortiums, and private aquaculture operators across 57+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mosta

HQ country

Malta

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Environmental, Technical and Financial Consultancy: Complete range of consultancy services for the aquaculture industry including environmental assessments, technical design, and financial advisory services for aquaculture projects.
2. RAS Engineering and Design Services: Engineering and design services for aquaculture facilities, particularly Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), including infrastructure planning, construction management and commissioning.
3. Contract Research and Testing: Contract research services at ABT Innovia facility including fish health studies, nutritional trials, and product testing for aquaculture industry clients.
4. EU Research Projects: Participation in EU Horizon research projects as consortium partner, coordinator, or technical service provider, contributing to R&D funding.
5. Marine Environmental Consulting: Marine environmental consulting, surveying, and GIS services for environmental impact assessments and marine ecosystem studies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AquaBioTech Group provides integrated consulting, engineering, and research services for the aquaculture, fisheries, and marine environmental sectors worldwide. Its service portfolio covers environmental, technical and financial consultancy for aquaculture projects; engineering and design of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS); contract research and testing of fish nutrition and health at licensed laboratories; fisheries resource assessment and ecological research; and marine environmental surveying and GIS-based environmental impact assessments.

Product overview

AquaBioTech Group is a global consulting and engineering company offering an integrated portfolio of aquaculture, fisheries, and marine services. The core offerings consist of ABT Aquaculture (environmental and technical consultancy), ABT RAS (engineering and design of recirculating aquaculture systems), ABT Innovia (contract research and testing services), ABT Fisheries (resource assessment and sustainable practices), and ABT Marine (environmental consulting and surveying). These services work together to provide comprehensive support for aquaculture development, from initial consultancy through facility design, research, and ongoing operational support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABT RAS: Recirculating Aquaculture Systems department offering engineering and design services for aquaculture facilities.
• ABT Innovia
• ABT Aquaculture
• ABT Fisheries
• ABT Marine

Products and services

• ABT Aquaculture
• ABT RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems)
• ABT Innovia
• ABT Fisheries
• ABT Marine

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects delivered in 57+ countries over 20+ years of operation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NTT Green & FoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Collaboration on a land-based aquaculture project for Coho salmon and trout in Kesennuma, Japan using RAS technology. AquaBioTech Group provides RAS technology expertise for the project which is planned to begin construction in early 2026.
• AfraponixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2025Partnership in the CIFAA/AVFA project for sustainable food production through aquaponics. AquaBioTech Group provides aquaculture training, water treatment techniques, building aquaponic systems expertise, and fish stock management knowledge.
• Fisheries Development Oman (FDO)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 October 2024Advisory contract to support Fisheries Development Oman in developing sustainable aquaculture and fisheries sectors in Oman. Services include business strategy development and technical due diligence. FDO has USD 1.2 billion funding allocation from Government of Oman.
• iFishIENCi Consortium (16 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Horizon 2020 project bringing together 16 partners in a transdisciplinary effort towards improving aquaculture management and practices. AquaBioTech Group serves as overall coordinator. Project focuses on intelligent monitoring and feeding technologies.
• NORCEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in iFishIENCi project for intelligent feeding technologies development.
• LEITATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in iFishIENCi project contributing to aquaculture technology development.
• Aller Aqua Research GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in iFishIENCi project focusing on fish growth performance and morphological body quality traits research.
• VikingAquacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian partnership for cooperation on aquaculture projects. Companies presented together at Aquaculture Europe 2022 in Rimini, Italy.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean business support network. AquaBioTech Group participated in 20+ B2B matchmaking sessions, received assistance on access to finance, and mentoring on R&D capacity development. George Mantas serves as EEN ambassador in Malta.
• Sustainable Agriculture TanzaniacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in PrAEctiCe EU-Horizon project. AquaBioTech Group installed monitoring systems and provides aquaculture technical advice. Host of 2024 annual meeting.
• Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (DALF) KenyacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in PrAEctiCe project. AquaBioTech Group installed aquaculture monitoring system in research facility in Kisumu.
• National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) UgandacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in PrAEctiCe project. AquaBioTech Group installed aquaculture monitoring system in research facility in Kajjansi.
• MATE Aquaculture InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian university partner in iFishIENCi project. Students and teachers from MATE participated in SmartRAS training at AquaBioTech Group facilities.
• World Bank / NAF01 ProjectcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation of aquaculture training in Liberia under World Bank-funded NAF01 project. Training conducted for extension officers and fish farmers in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba regions.
• Malta College for Arts Science and Technology (MCAST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in Malta for AMBULANT Sino-Malta cooperative project. Co-organised AMBULANT Final Networking Event. Collaboration on underwater biomimetic robot development for cage monitoring.
• FugrominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerItalian partner for Malta-Italy Electrical Interconnector 2 project. Responsible for ROV, geophysical and geotechnical surveys aboard research vessel.
• Interconnect Malta (ICM)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for Malta-Italy Electrical Interconnector 2 project. AquaBioTech Group oversees offshore environmental surveys for the cable installation project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• AKVA Group: Norwegian aquaculture technology group supplying equipment, software, and services to fish farms globally. Comparable as a multi-vertical aquaculture technology and services provider serving commercial aquaculture operators worldwide.
• Innovasea (InnovaSea Systems): Provides aquaculture technology, fish monitoring systems, and aquatic environmental sensors globally. Overlaps with AquaBioTech's aquaculture monitoring systems and iBOSS-style intelligent monitoring capabilities.
• AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies: Israel-based specialist in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) engineering, design, and turnkey facility delivery. Directly comparable to AquaBioTech's RAS engineering and design arm and global project delivery model.
• Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems: US-based aquaculture systems provider designing, manufacturing, and supporting RAS and water management solutions for commercial hatcheries and aquaculture operators. Comparable engineering and systems-integration focus in aquaculture.

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: Global engineering and environmental consulting firm with significant marine environmental and water resources practices. Comparable as a broader consulting incumbent competing for marine environmental surveying and EIA mandates.
• Royal HaskoningDHV: International engineering and environmental consulting firm with maritime, water, and aquaculture expertise. Comparable as a larger consultancy competing for marine surveying, EIA, and water-related project work.
• Skretting: World-leading aquaculture feed producer with global R&D operations. Comparable as a major aquaculture industry incumbent that AquaBioTech partners with or competes against for fish nutrition research mandates.
• BioMar: Global aquaculture feed manufacturer with significant R&D in fish nutrition and health. Comparable as a larger aquaculture industry player with whom ABT conducts contract research and benchmarking work.

Emerging players

• XpertSea: Canadian aquaculture technology company applying AI-driven monitoring and data analytics to fish farming. Comparable as a digital/monitoring technology entrant in the same aquaculture R&D ecosystem.

Others

• Wageningen University & Research (Aquaculture Research Group): Leading European aquaculture research institution frequently partnering with private firms on R&D and EU consortium projects. Comparable as a research counterpart and occasional consortium partner in Horizon programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquabiotech-group
• Xx.com/aquabt
• Facebookfacebook.com/AquaBioTechGroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 AquaBioTech Group