US and Canada aquaculture technology centres split into separate companies
The Centre for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) has announced the spinout of its Canadian subsidiary, Centre for Aquaculture Technologies Canada (CATC), into an independent company.
CAT said the move is part of a strategic alignment to optimise technical specialisation. Both entities will continue as sister companies and integral parts of investment fund Cuna del Mar, continuing collaboration while operating under separate governance and management structures.
San Diego-headquartered CAT will maintain its focus on advancements in the aquaculture genetics sector, while CATC, a contract research organisation, will continue to operate its facilities in Souris and Victoria, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Singleness of purpose
John Buchanan, chief executive of CAT, said the realignment “empowers CAT to pursue innovation in genetic improvement with singleness of purpose and strategic focus”.
Myrna Gillis, newly appointed chief executive of CATC, said: “The realignment presents us with a unique opportunity to deepen our expertise in health, nutrition, diagnostics, and specialty feed production while forging new pathways for research and development.
“We are excited about the prospects this brings and are committed to driving meaningful contributions to the growth of the aquaculture sector. We also express thanks to our founder John Buchanan for his vision and leadership, and for the initiative in charting the exciting new direction for both organisations.”
Gillis has been overseeing the focus on health and nutrition since November last year.
Sustainable aquaculture
Cuna Del Mar is a US-based sustainable aquaculture investment fund backed by Christy Walton, the billionaire daughter-in-law of Walmart founder Sam Walton. The other companies in the portfolio are Earth Oceans Farms, which farms totoaba in Mexico; Open Blue, which grows cobia in submersible cages seven miles off the coast of Panama; Mexico oyster grower Sol Azul; Blue Ocean Mariculture, which grows kanpachi – a type of amberjack – in the open ocean off Hawaii; and Boston-based InnovaSea, which makes aquaculture equipment including submersible pens and sensors.
