Market Opportunity

The Need

Driven by population increases and favorable demographics, seafood demand in the United States is expected to double in the next decade and a half. The world market is growing even faster, with other countries also trying to satisfy their sushi fix and consume more fish because it’s healthy and one of our earth’s best sources of protein.

And the demand driven market for white fish is growing just as fast, with the same demand-driven market conditions for premium white fish. But white fish supplies have been the hardest hit in the past few decades. Fish such as halibut, cod, Chilean sea bass, grouper, snapper, have been some of the most sought after and unstable supplies.

Recent introductions of new farm raised fish such as Tilapia, have demonstrated how new white fish products with effective marketing and distribution have gained rapid consumer acceptance. However, the consumer market is increasingly aware and sensitive to environmental conditions such as overfishing and farming method.

But traditional aquaculture it has its own problems. The farms themselves, unless carefully managed, can be havens for disease, so fish are sometimes infused with prophylactic antibiotics, anti-parasitical and antifungal agents. Those contaminants and the concentration of waste make poorly monitored shoreline and costal farms devastating to the environment. Further, competition for shoreline space alone may stall growth of near shore fish farming. There simply is not enough room to grow.

Gourmet fish consumers are also looking for high quality, healthy products. Open Blue’s Cobia and its safe environmentally sustainable method of production is the answer for these consumers.