Societe Atlantique De Mariculture

What Societe Atlantique De Mariculture does

Société Atlantique de Mariculture (Satmar), founded in 1972 in Gatteville-le-Phare, France, is the oldest active French shellfish hatchery and one of Europe's leading suppliers of oyster and Manila clam spat. The company operates across nine strategically distributed sites along the French coastline — comprising two hatcheries (Gatteville and Leucate, with Leucate serving as a 1,000 km Mediterranean diversification), six nurseries, and three shipping centers — producing micro-spat, nursery spat, pre-grown spat, 18-month oysters, and commercial Manila clams using natural seawater and phytoplankton in covered basins. Satmar is the first European producer of triploid oysters (1992), inventor of venericulture (clam farming, 1980), and the entity that introduced the Japanese Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) to France in 1974 in partnership with CNEXO.

Satmar's commercial model rests on three revenue streams: (1) spat and pre-grown oyster/clam sales to professional conchyliculteurs and clam cultivators across France and export markets (Spain, Portugal, North Africa, Ireland); (2) commercial clam production, the majority of which is exported from its Îles Chausey farming concession; and (3) premium merchant oyster sales under the Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou sub-brand (acquired 2005), which has earned seven medals at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris since 2011. Pricing is quote-based with stated minimum order quantities (10 kg for demi-élevage, 1,000 units for spat/micro-spat), distributed via temperature-controlled logistics with 24–48 hour domestic delivery windows through dedicated shipping centers at Lestre and Saint-Philibert.

The business is privately held under the Goelet family (third generation under President Olav Goelet since 2018, succeeding his grandfather), with no disclosed institutional or venture investment, and operates a sales-led GTM through five regional sales representatives covering defined French territories and product categories. Satmar holds organic (AB) certification on three sites (Gatteville, Leucate, Marennes), complies with EU food hygiene regulations (EC 852/2004 and 853/2004), and has filed a patent with INPI for its "4-season oysters" — sterile triploids enabling year-round consumption.

Name

Societe Atlantique De Mariculture

Legal name

Satmar

Website

https://www.satmar.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Satmar is a family-owned French shellfish hatchery founded in 1972, producing oyster and Manila clam spat, 18-month oysters, and commercial clams across nine coastal sites for professional conchyliculteurs, clam farmers, wholesalers, and seafood distributors in France and select export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shellfish Aquaculture / Hatchery

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) (AFAEAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shellfish Wholesale (Crustaceans & Mollusks) (AFAIADAF), Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD)

Keywords

• Shellfish hatchery operations
• Oyster spat production
• Aquaculture nursery services
• Clam breeding supply
• Marine shellfish farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Gatteville-le-phare

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Shellfish Spat Sales: Primary revenue from selling oyster and clam spat (naissain) to oyster farmers and clam cultivators in France and internationally. Products include micro-spat, spat, pre-grown spat, and 18-month oysters.
2. Commercial Clam Production: Production and export of commercial clams grown on the Îles Chausey. Most of clam production is sold for export.
3. Merchant Oyster Sales: Sale of merchant oysters under the Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou brand, marketed as premium oysters raised in open sea for average 22 months.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Société Atlantique De Mariculture (Satmar) is a French shellfish hatchery and nursery company that produces and supplies oyster and Manila clam spat (naissains), half-grown (18-month) oysters, micro-spats, triploid oysters, and commercial clams to professional shellfish farmers, wholesalers, and seafood distributors. Through its consumer-facing brand Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou, it also markets finished merchant oysters.

Product overview

Societe Atlantique De Mariculture (Satmar) operates as a shellfish hatchery and nursery enterprise providing a complete portfolio of oyster and clam products across different lifecycle stages. The product range includes: micro-spats and nursery spats for initial farming, 18-month oysters for professional oyster farmers, and premium merchant oysters sold under the Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou sub-brand. For clams, Satmar supplies Manila clam spats and commercial clams primarily destined for export. The company also pioneered triploid oysters in Europe, enabling year-round consumption. Products are distributed across France and internationally through multiple sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Naissains de nurserie (Nursery Spats) Nursery-reared juvenile oyster seed stock supplied to professional oyster farmers for on-growing in their parks.
• Naissains de parc (Park Spats) Park-ready oyster spat sized for direct transfer to on-growing parks, supplied to professional shellfish farmers.
• Huîtres 18 mois (18-Month Oysters) Half-grown oysters, approximately 18 months old, produced in Satmar's nurseries and sold to farmers for final on-growing or to wholesalers.
• Huîtres marchandes Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou (Merchant Oysters – Tatihou brand) Finished, market-size oysters marketed under the Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou brand, sold to wholesalers, fishmongers, and restaurants.
• Naissains de palourdes (Manila Clam Spats) Hatchery-produced Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) spat supplied to professional clam farmers for nursery and on-growing.
• Palourdes marchandes (Commercial Clams) Market-size Manila clams sold to wholesalers, fishmongers, and restaurants for seafood distribution and consumption.
• Micro-naissains (Micro-Spats) Very small hatchery/nursery-stage oyster seed produced via micro-nursery techniques, supplied to professional farmers for further nursery rearing.
• Huîtres triploïdes (Triploid Oysters) Triploid oysters bred for year-round availability and improved growth performance, supplied to shellfish farmers and seafood distributors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bronze medal at Concours Général Agricole de Paris 2019 - 7th award since 2011 including 4 gold medals

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNEXO (Centre National pour l'Exploitation des Océans)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1974Partnership with CNEXO to introduce Japanese Manila clams to France at Île Tudy in 1974. CNEXO is the precursor to Ifremer (French Institute for Sea Exploitation). This collaboration established the foundation for venericulture in France.
• Irish PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-fattening partnerships with Irish farms for oyster production, established for over 20 years of collaboration.
• Les Jardins Ostréicoles de TatihoucoreOthersFounded in 2005 when Satmar acquired the JANSENS company. This oyster farming operation produces and ships oysters under the Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou brand. The brand has won multiple medals at the Concours Général Agricole (7 awards since 2011).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vendée Naissain: French oyster spat hatchery based in Vendée producing diploid and triploid oyster seed for French oyster farmers. Closely overlaps with Satmar's core oyster spat hatchery business and serves the same oyster-farmer customer base.
• France Naissain: Leading French oyster spat hatchery group with multiple Atlantic production sites selling to French conchyliculteurs. Directly competes with Satmar in oyster spat and operates the same hatchery-to-farmer distribution model.
• Société de Mariculture de Quiberon (SMQ): French shellfish aquaculture producer based in Brittany working with oysters and other mollusks. Comparable to Satmar's integrated shellfish farming operations and shares the French Atlantic production footprint.
• Huîtres Geay: Marennes-Oléron-based French oyster producer with its own refined-oyster brand and Concours Général Agricole awards. Comparable to Satmar's Les Jardins Ostréicoles de Tatihou branded oyster line and operates in the same premium French oyster category.
• Huîtres Tarbouriech: French oyster producer on the Étang de Thau known for its branded premium oysters and innovation in oyster maturation. Comparable as a French branded-oyster producer competing for similar premium retail and foodservice customers.
• Taylor Shellfish Farms: Largest US Pacific shellfish hatchery and farming operation, with integrated oyster, clam, and mussel production and its own consumer brands. Closely comparable to Satmar as a vertically integrated shellfish hatchery-to-brand operator.
• Hog Island Oyster Co. US West Coast shellfish company operating its own hatchery and Tomales Bay oyster farms with strong wholesale and direct-to-consumer brands. Comparable to Satmar in combining hatchery, farming, and premium branded retail.
• Hama Hama Oyster Company: Family-owned US Pacific shellfish grower and hatchery producing oysters and clams under its own brand. Closely comparable to Satmar in family ownership, integrated hatchery/farm model, and branded premium positioning.
• Tomales Bay Oyster Company: California shellfish operation combining oyster farming with hatchery operations and direct sales. Comparable to Satmar as a multi-stage shellfish producer with its own retail and wholesale channels.

Broad incumbents

• Clearwater Seafoods: Large Canadian shellfish (and broader seafood) company harvesting, farming, and distributing clams, oysters, and other mollusks globally. Comparable at the shellfish category level but operates at far greater scale with a broad seafood portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/satmar

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Societe Atlantique De Mariculture