Image source: thefishsite.com

Lisaqua is a French deep tech aquaculture company founded in 2018 in Nantes that addresses critical environmental and operational challenges associated with conventional maritime shrimp farming. Traditional coastal aquaculture has contributed to mangrove destruction, water pollution, high antibiotic use, disease outbreaks, and long carbon intensive supply chains that depend on imported frozen seafood. Lisaqua was created to respond to these issues by developing a land-based, closed-loop aquaculture solution that protects marine ecosystems while supporting the broader maritime economy. By relocating shrimp production inland and close to consumer markets, Lisaqua reduces pressure on coastal waters, lowers the risk of marine contamination, and strengthens seafood supply resilience, an increasingly important factor for maritime industries, ports, and coastal communities affected by climate change and resource depletion.

The company was founded by Dr. Charlotte Schoelinck, a marine biologist and CEO, together with Caroline Madoc, an engineer, and Gabriel Boneu, an entrepreneur. Their combined expertise in marine science, engineering, and business enabled the development of Lisaqua’s proprietary permaquaculture technology, an advanced recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) inspired by natural marine ecosystems. Since its founding, Lisaqua has attracted significant investment to scale its innovation. In March 2022, the company raised approximately €4.9 million, supported by Le Gouessant Agricultural Cooperative, Litto Invest, private investors, and non-dilutive funding from Bpifrance, Crédit Maritime, and CIC Ouest. In 2025, Lisaqua secured an additional €9 million led by Crédit Mutuel Impact’s Environmental and Solidarity Revolution Fund, with participation from Noshaq and existing partners, bringing total funding to over €14 million to support industrial-scale farms and R&D expansion. Lisaqua also part of the portfolio of la banque Bleue.

Lisaqua’s offering centers on its indoor permaquaculture shrimp farms, which combine shrimp, beneficial microorganisms, and complementary marine species within a fully controlled environment. The technology works by continuously recirculating and biologically filtering water, enabling up to 99% water reuse, eliminating antibiotics, and preventing polluting discharge into natural waters. The advantages of this technology include strong environmental performance, improved food safety, stable year round production, and reduced dependency on wild fisheries, which indirectly benefits seafarers and maritime operators by easing pressure on marine resources. 

Real-world use cases include Lisaqua’s pilot farm near Nantes supplying local fishmongers and restaurants, and its industrial project near Paris designed to produce up to 100 tonnes annually. Through partnerships with financial institutions, agricultural cooperatives, food innovation networks, and local commercial clients, Lisaqua has positioned itself as a key contributor to a more sustainable, resilient blue economy that aligns aquaculture innovation with long-term maritime environmental protection.

Final thought

Lisaqua illustrates how technological innovation in aquaculture can directly support a healthier ocean economy without relying on the ocean itself. By pairing ecosystem-inspired design with rigorous environmental standards and localised production, the company offers a scalable model for sustainable seafood that protects biodiversity, enhances food security, and strengthens the resilience of maritime communities. As climate risks intensify and demand for protein grows, solutions like Lisaqua’s permaquaculture demonstrate that economic growth and marine conservation can and must advance together.

References 

Aqua Culture Asia Pacific. (2025). Lisaqua raises €9 million to develop its first large scale low-environmental impact shrimp farm. https://aquaasiapac.com/2025/10/21/lisaqua-raises-e9-million-to-develop-its-first-large-scale-low-environmental-impact-shrimp-farm/ Aqua Culture Asia Pacific

EU-Startups. (2022). French startup Lisaqua picks up €4.9 million to launch sustainability-focused land-based shrimp farm. https://www.eu-startups.com/2022/03/french-startup-lisaqua-picks-up-e49-million-to-launch-sustainability-focused-land-based-shrimp-farm/ eu-startups.com

NatureTech Observatory. (n.d.). Lisaqua profile. https://naturetechobservatory.org/show/353212-lisaqua/ naturetechobservatory.org

FoodNavigator. (2022). First land-based shrimp farm in France prepares to scale, tapping deeptech and ‘permaquaculture’. https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2022/03/07/First-land-based-shrimp-farm-in-France-prepares-to-scale-tapping-deeptech-and-permaquaculture/ FoodNavigator.com

La Ferme Digitale. (n.d.). Lisaqua member profile. https://www.lafermedigitale.fr/membre/lisaqua/