Oceanloop secures US$37M EIB investment to revolutionise indoor shrimp farming  

GERMANY – Munich-based aquaculture pioneer Oceanloop has secured a €35 (approximately US$37) million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), marking a significant step toward transforming sustainable shrimp farming in Europe. 

The funding, backed by the EU’s InvestEU guarantee program, will propel Oceanloop’s expansion into large-scale production and advance its innovative recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology.  

Founded in 2012, Oceanloop specialises in land-based farming of Pacific white shrimp, which accounts for the bulk of the 5 million tonnes of shrimp produced globally annually. 

The company operates pilot farms in Kiel and Munich, Germany, producing premium shrimp that meet EU sustainability and animal welfare standards. 

With this EIB investment, Oceanloop is set to scale its production and contribute to reducing Europe’s heavy reliance on shrimp imports.  

The funding will support two critical projects. Oceanloop will expand its R&D facility in Kiel, boosting its production capacity from 5 tonnes to 60 tonnes annually. 

Meanwhile, the company will construct Europe’s first large-scale inland shrimp farm in Gran Canaria, Spain. 

This facility is expected to produce 2,000 tonnes of white-leg shrimp annually, leveraging cutting-edge RAS technology to maintain precise farming conditions while optimising resource efficiency.  

“This marks a new era for sustainable aquaculture,” said Fabian Riedel, Oceanloop’s founder and CEO. “As demand for sustainably produced animal proteins surges, Europe’s reliance on imports poses a growing risk. This investment will enable us to bring our innovative technology to industrial-scale commercialisation, offering a resilient and eco-friendly solution.”  

Technology-driven sustainability  

Oceanloop’s RAS technology employs advanced digital tools, including artificial intelligence and computer vision, to monitor shrimp biomass and stress levels in real-time. This ensures optimal animal welfare while adhering to rigorous EU environmental standards. 

Beyond shrimp farming, Oceanloop integrates circular economy practices such as vapour-thermal carbonisation for bio-coal fertiliser production and anaerobic digestion for biogas generation. 

Renewable energy from wind and solar installations further enhances the sustainability of its operations.  

EIB Vice-President Nicola Beer highlighted the importance of supporting European innovators like Oceanloop. 

“Their technology demonstrates how seafood production can become more environmentally friendly while reducing water usage and CO₂ emissions. This aligns perfectly with InvestEU’s mission to foster innovation and sustainability.”  

Europe’s dependency on shrimp imports underscores the urgency of Oceanloop’s mission. By localising shrimp farming through sustainable practices, the company aims to provide a reliable, high-quality seafood supply chain within the EU while reducing environmental impacts associated with traditional aquaculture and overfishing.  

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