Shrimp farming, long criticised for its toll on fragile coastal ecosystems, faces growing pressure to reinvent itself. Conventional production methods, rooted in mangrove destruction, water pollution, and antibiotic use, are no longer compatible with modern sustainability goals.
French startup Lisaqua offers a timely alternative. The company pioneers low-impact, antibiotic-free shrimp production and has just secured €9 million in fresh funding.
The round was led by the Fonds Révolution Environnementale et Solidaire, backed by Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and managed by Crédit Mutuel Impact. Belgian fund Noshaq and long-time partners, including the Le Gouessant cooperative, also joined the round.
Restoring the balance to seafood production
Founded in 2018 by marine biologist Charlotte Schoelinck and engineer-entrepreneur Gabriel Boneu, Lisaqua was built on a clear conviction: aquaculture can feed people without damaging the planet.
The founders’ expertise, spanning marine ecology, biotechnology, and sustainable engineering, came together around one vision: to restore balance to seafood production.
The team began with small-scale trials in aquariums and laboratories, gradually developing a pilot farm in Saint-Herblain. There, Lisaqua proved that land-based shrimp cultivation with near-zero discharge can work, laying the foundation for a new standard in responsible aquaculture.
At the heart of Lisaqua’s approach lies its patented farming system, which merges biofiltration with predictive models to create a fully controlled environment. The process safeguards mangroves and reduces water consumption through continuous recycling, while waste heat from local incineration plants is recovered to warm the tanks efficiently.
Lisaqua’s circular system also converts effluents into usable resources and reclaims value from co-products. The outcome is clear: shrimp free from antibiotics and sulfites, prized by chefs for their clean taste and firm texture.
What’s next?
This latest round of funding will accelerate the construction of Lisaqua’s first large-scale facility in Monthyon (Seine-et-Marne), with an annual production capacity of 100 metric tons. Supported by France’s “Première Usine” initiative under the France 2030 plan, the project represents a shift from pilot to industrial stage.
With a growing team of 38 specialists, Lisaqua now plans to replicate its model with new farms across France and Europe. A Belgian site, developed in partnership with Noshaq, is under active consideration.
