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Futuna Blue Spain strengthens Seriola juvenile production, target 1.2 million by 2025

El Puerto de Santa María, Spain, 5 May 2025 | Futuna secures steady yearly output for Mediterranean and global markets

Desiderio Pérez, director técnico Futuna Blue EspañaDesiderio Pérez, Project Manager Futuna Blue España | @misPeces

Futuna Blue España has made significant strides in its production of juvenile Seriola dumerili, more commonly known as amberjack. Under the technical leadership of Desiderio Pérez Hilario, the company has consolidated its operations and is on track to close 2025 with an output of 1.2 million juveniles—aiming for a medium-term target of 5 million.

Since Kingfish Norway became the major shareholder in 2023, Futuna has received a substantial capital boost that has enabled it to modernise its facilities and increase fry production capacity. Many of these upgrades were carried out in partnership with Innovaqua, a technology provider with extensive experience in aquaculture, which has implemented advanced systems for process control, monitoring and feeding.

In line with its commitment to sustainability, the company has installed solar panels and enhanced its biofiltration systems. A portion of this investment was made possible thanks to co-financing from the Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEMPA) and the Regional Government of Andalusia. In 2024, Futuna received €525,325.96, with 50% of that sum co-funded by these entities.

One of the company's most notable milestones, according to Pérez, is that Futuna is now close to achieving commercial-scale full-cycle breeding of the species—meaning the production of second-generation (F2) fish. This would be a world-first development, opening the door to future genetic improvement and domestication programmes. Until now, the company has bred juveniles from both wild and captive broodstock.

Despite ongoing challenges such as survival rates, dispersion, and cannibalism, Pérez notes that over the past two years they have successfully achieved year-round availability of juveniles, thanks to robust breeding and hatchery protocols—featuring temperature and photoperiod control among other innovations.

At present, says Pérez, Futuna is in a position to ensure a stable, predictable and controlled annual production of over 1.2 million juveniles. This capacity allows the company to reliably supply its main clients in the Mediterranean and in select international markets.

This consolidation also supports future growth plans, including a new grow-out facility under Acuicultura Cádiz EME450 SL. Once construction is complete, the site is expected to produce 450 tonnes of amberjack annually using a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), starting next year.

The company’s growth is also fueling new initiatives, such as the Acuicultura Cádiz EME450 SL grow-out farm, which forms part of its long-term expansion strategy. Once construction is complete, the facility aims to begin production next year with an annual output of 450 tonnes of fish.

Futuna, tanque nursery con Mirafeed Innovaqua y Desiderio al fondo