Institut für Binnenfischerei (IBF) e.V.

What Institut für Binnenfischerei (IBF) e.V. does

Institut für Binnenfischerei (IBF) e.V. is a German non-profit applied research institute (eingetragener Verein) headquartered at the Jägerhof site in Potsdam-Sacrow. It has operated continuously at the location since 1922 and has been legally independent since 1992, employing approximately five staff. Its functional remit is applied research and advisory work on inland fisheries, freshwater aquaculture, fish ecology, and water body management, serving German state fisheries administrations, EU institutions, angling and angler associations, conservation NGOs, and aquaculture operators. The institute's outputs include the GEM IIIb population model for European eel (Anguilla anguilla) stock management, the IBETA animal welfare assessment tool for fish, and the Fish Species Atlas/Database covering freshwater species in Germany. It also operates experimental aquaculture facilities and runs applied training programs for fisheries practitioners.

Technically, IBF's work rests on empirical field methods (electrofishing, netting, hydroacoustic and habitat surveys), population and stock modeling (anchored by GEM IIIb), and species-specific biological indicators (e.g., IBETA), supported by long-running, locality-specific datasets that feed the Fish Species Atlas. The institute does not produce software products or commercial data feeds; instead, it packages its expertise as commissioned studies, expert opinions, models, and policy recommendations delivered to public-sector and non-profit clients.

Its business model is grant- and contract-funded rather than market-driven. Core institutional financing comes from four German state governments (institutional subsidies), supplemented by EU funding instruments (including EFRE for the completed building/infrastructure upgrade), federal project funding, and project-based commissioned research from ministries, water authorities, and conservation organizations. Revenue mechanics are therefore structured around multi-year state framework agreements, EU project cycles, and award/recognition income (e.g., Frontiers Planet Prize 2024) rather than transactional pricing, making the model predictable but heavily dependent on public-sector budget cycles.

Name

Institut für Binnenfischerei (IBF) e.V.

Legal name

Institut für Binnenfischerei e.V. Potsdam-Sacrow

Website

https://ifb-potsdam.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institut für Binnenfischerei (IBF) e.V. is a Potsdam-based German non-profit applied research institute conducting inland fisheries, freshwater aquaculture, and water ecology studies for state governments, EU institutions, angling associations, and conservation organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Fisheries Research and Aquaculture Science

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Aquaculture (1125), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture & Fish Health Services (AFAEANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments (EUAHAHAB), Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Inland fisheries research
• Applied fish ecology
• Aquaculture technology
• Fish stock assessment
• Fisheries advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam-Sacrow

HQ country

Germany

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

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding Agreements: The institute operates based on funding agreements with multiple German state governments: Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thüringen. These agreements fund core research activities, monitoring programs, and advisory services.
2. Project-Based Research Funding: The institute secures competitive research grants from national and European sources including EU INTERREG programs (OderZusammen project), EU LIFE program (Bachmuschel project), German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) through the TeichLausitz initiative, and German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) via BLE for projects like IBETA. Funding also comes from international organizations (GIZ for India project).
3. Training and Continuing Education: Revenue from professional training events including the annual Fischforum Jägerhof, Seddin training days, seminars, and workshops for fisheries practitioners, aquaculture operators, and fisheries authorities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institut für Binnenfischerei (IfB) e.V. Potsdam-Sacrow is an applied scientific research institution dedicated to inland fisheries and fish ecology research across German freshwaters. It delivers applied research, fish population monitoring, stock assessment modeling (notably the GEM IIIb eel model), aquaculture technology trials including Biofloc systems, professional training events (Fischforum Jägerhof and Seddin training days), academic teaching, and advisory services to state fisheries ministries.

Product overview

Institut für Binnenfischerei e.V. is a scientific research institute providing applied fisheries and fish ecological research services rather than commercial products. Its offerings include specialized Excel-based research tools (German Eel Model GEM IIIb, IBETA animal welfare analysis tool), fish species databases, continuing education programs (Fischforum Jägerhof, Seddin training events), and a comprehensive publication database.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• German Eel Model (GEM IIIb) An Excel-based, modular stock assessment model that estimates silver eel escapement for German river basins based on stock input parameters (natural ascent, stocking) and mortality factors (natural mortality, commercial and recreational fishing, cormorant predation, hydropower turbines). Used in federal eel management plans for inland waters.
• IBETA Animal Welfare Analysis Tool (Tierwohlindex Pikeperch) An Excel-based analytical tool from the IBETA joint project (funded by BMEL/BLE) for assessing animal welfare during pikeperch rearing in recirculating aquaculture systems. Enables fish farmers to objectively and uniformly control and document their animal welfare practices.
• Fish Species Atlas (Fischartenkataster) Centralized database (Fischartenkataster) of fish species occurrences across Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, continuously updated through professional surveys and citizen science contributions. Documents species diversity growth (60 → 73 species since 2010) including 20 invasive non-native species.
• Fischforum Jägerhof A regular two-day continuing education event held at the institute's on-site Jägerhof lecture hall covering topics such as fish keeping, transport, non-native species, fish feeding, and eel management. Targeted at fisheries practitioners, fisheries authorities, and aquaculture operators.
• Seddin Training Events (Brandenburger Fischereitag) Annual continuing education event held each September at the Heimvolkshochschule am Seddiner See, organized with the Brandenburger Fischereitag, featuring research-result presentations and practitioner discussions. Each event attracts approximately 70 participants from science, practice, ministries, associations, and administration.
• IfB Publication Database Online searchable database of IfB publications including annual reports, thematic volumes, scientific journal articles, and conference presentations, many available as free PDF downloads through the institute website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eel stocks in inland waters have shown a clear upward trend in recent years as documented by the institute's monitoring programs.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INTERREG Programme (EU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025European funding program for cross-border cooperation financing the 3-year OderZusammen project, led by IfB, to find solutions for improving water quality and fish habitat in the Oder River following the 2022 fish kill caused by the gold alga Prymnesium parvum.
• Universität Don Bosco (Assam, India)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2024 for cooperation on aquatic resource management and fisheries research.
• Universität Manipur (Manipur, India)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2024 for cooperation on aquatic resource management and fisheries research.
• GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024International cooperation agency contracted IfB for a two-year project in India's northeastern Himalayan region to support protection and sustainable management of aquatic resources, including training events and development of monitoring manuals.
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-standing teaching cooperation where IfB scientists deliver various teaching modules for the Master program 'Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture' (being integrated into 'Integrated Natural Resource Management'). Also provides supervision for student theses.
• EU LIFE ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 202310-year EU LIFE program project for protection of the critically endangered thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) in Brandenburg. Led by Stiftung Naturschutzfonds Brandenburg with IfB as cooperation partner, along with Naturkundemusem Stuttgart.
• TU DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIfB scientists deliver lectures on fisheries management as part of university curriculum.
• Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-WittenbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIfB scientists deliver lectures on special husbandry and use forms of animal husbandry.
• Leibniz Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB) BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partner on various studies including the fish stocking effectiveness study and salmon/meerforellen monitoring. Shared research interests in inland fisheries and aquatic ecology.
• Forellenhof Themar (Thuringia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquaculture partner in IfB pilot project on water hygienization in trout aquaculture, testing methods to reduce pathogens in warming surface water used in aquaculture systems.
• Teichwirtschaft Reinfeld (Schleswig-Holstein)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPractical-scale testing partner for Biofloc Technology (BFT) in carp rearing, an alternative to conventional extensive pond rearing that requires large areas for K1 and K2 stages.
• Stiftung NaturSchutzFonds BrandenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the LIFE Bachmuschel project with IfB as cooperation partner. Also coordinates various conservation initiatives involving IfB scientific support for fish species protection.
• Landesanglerverband Brandenburg e.V. (LAVB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation on salmon and sea trout restocking projects in Brandenburg's rivers, particularly in the Stepenitz river system.
• Fario e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAngling club operating a hatchery in Silmersdorf for salmon and sea trout restocking in the Elbe river basin. IfB provides scientific support for the restocking program.
• Fischereischutzgenossenschaft Havel Brandenburg e.G.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFisheries protection cooperative that coordinated the 2024 release of 4 million glass eels into Brandenburg waters, with scientific monitoring by IfB as part of the European eel stock replenishment program.
• Thünen Institut für OstseefischereicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of the German Eel Stock Model (GEM) for use in German eel management plans, between 2008-2017.
• Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit NiedersachsenminorOthersContributed presentation on fish kill events and emergency response protocols at Seddin training events.
• Fischereiforschungsstelle Baden-Württemberg (FFS) LangenargenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the IBETA project developing the animal welfare index for pikeperch and rainbow trout.
• Sächsisches Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und GeologieminorOthersContributed presentation on health indicators for carp and rainbow trout at Seddin training events.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Fischereiforschungsstelle Baden-Württemberg (FFS Langenargen): State fisheries research station in Baden-Württemberg covering Lake Constance and surrounding waters. Direct peer as it co-developed the IBETA animal welfare tool with IfB and serves a parallel applied-research role for a different German state ministry.
• Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft - Institut für Fischerei (LfL-IFi): Bavaria's state institute for fisheries, part of the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture. Direct peer as it conducts applied research and aquaculture extension for Bavarian fisheries authorities, parallel to IfB's role for Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thüringen.
• Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) Berlin: Major German freshwater research institute covering fish ecology, biodiversity, and aquaculture. Direct peer as IGB collaborates with IfB on inland fisheries studies (e.g., the Science-published stocking-effectiveness study) and serves overlapping ministry clients in Brandenburg.
• Thünen Institute (Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute): Germany's federal research institute for rural areas, fisheries, and agriculture. Direct peer as IfB co-developed the GEM eel stock model with the Thünen Institute for Baltic Sea Fisheries, and both serve German fisheries authorities with applied research.

Broad incumbents

• Wageningen University & Research - Aquaculture and Fisheries Group: Leading European aquaculture and fisheries research group within Wageningen UR. Broad incumbent operating at larger scale across the value chain (nutrition, genetics, systems) while sharing the applied-research-for-government mandate and aquaculture-technology-development focus.
• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Finnish government research institute covering natural resources including fisheries and aquaculture. Broad incumbent with a comparable public-mandate model, conducting applied inland-fisheries and aquaculture research for the Finnish state analogous to IfB's role in Germany.
• Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet): Norway's national marine and aquaculture research institute with global standing. Broad incumbent as it operates at much larger scale across marine and inland fisheries, but shares the applied-research-for-government model and provides an international comparison point for institutional structure.
• DTU Aqua (National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Denmark): Denmark's national institute for aquatic resources under the Technical University of Denmark. Broad incumbent covering fisheries, aquaculture, and ecosystem research at a larger scale, with a similar applied-research-for-government funding structure and EU-funded project portfolio.

Regional players

• Landesamt für Umwelt Brandenburg (LfU): Brandenburg's state environment agency whose President chairs the IfB Members' Assembly. Regional peer as it commissions and consumes applied fisheries research from IfB while also conducting in-house monitoring and water-resource management.
• Sächsisches Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie (LfULG): Saxony's state agency for environment, agriculture, and geology, which IfB has partnered with on training events and carp/rainbow trout health research. Regional peer as it provides applied fisheries and aquaculture advisory services for Saxony, partially overlapping with IfB's Saxony-Anhalt work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqQ7E5zXk
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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institut für Binnenfischerei (IBF) e.V.