The aquaculture research and development firm The Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) was purchased last week by Cuna Del Mar LP, an American investment fund, according to a CAT press release
The amount for which the company was purchased was not made public.
“We look forward to working within Cuna del Mar, a fund that clearly sees the potential for growth in the aquaculture industry,” CAT CEO John Buchanan said.
CAT operates two facilities, a research hub in San Diego, California, U.S.A., and a laboratory in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The company works to advance technology to increase aquaculture productivity. Its two geographically disparate facilities allow for focus on both cold- and warm-water species.
CAT’s San Diego facility was recently expanded to house shrimp, tilapia, and zebrafish. Its research facility on Prince Edward island is 21,000 square feet and is able to provide services in the areas of genomics, drug approvals, vaccine testing, and evaluation of novel feed ingredients.
Cuna Del Mar purchased the company from the Dutch investment firm Linnaeus Capital Partners, which also owns Greek sea bass and sea bream producers Selonda and Nireus. Linnaeus was founded by Georgian entrepreneur and politician Kakhu Bendukidze, who owned several aquaculture companies, and died in 2014.
CAT Managing Director Robert Orr said the company was “excited about the possibilities the future holds for [the] business.”
“Cuna del Mar is very pleased to be acquiring the CAT operations in the USA and Canada,” Orr said. “CAT has a tremendously talented team of people with unique capabilities, who are dedicated to making a difference for our customers and the industry as a whole.”
