Left to right: Gracie White from Conservation International, Analie Quezada Núñez and Elena Martínez Martínez from SOS Biotech, Tanja Hoel, director of Hatch Blue Consulting and Mariana Flores Vargas, Hatch Blue community manager for Latin America and the Caribbean © Hatch Blue
From its start online in 2021 (then called Women in Aquaculture) our programme to promote women in the seafood space has expanded. Our first in-person studio took place in Bali 2022 and we have just finished our second Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio in La Paz, Mexico.
Each programme has brought together extraordinary cohorts of female entrepreneurs - women who are making waves by innovating, scaling and challenging the status quo in aquaculture.
These women are not just leading businesses; they’re leading a movement. From pioneering sustainable seafood solutions to revolutionising aquaculture practices, their impact is undeniable: proving that passion, resilience and collaboration are the key ingredients for success. Together, they share knowledge, break barriers and lift each other higher.
From seaweed-based bioplastics to AI-driven aquaculture monitoring, the Women in Ocean Food startups are transforming the aquaculture industry. Companies like SOS Biotech are tackling feed sustainability with alternative protein sources, while Pacific Bioculture is developing climate-resilient farming techniques. Marulho is making waves with community-driven aquaculture initiatives that empower local fishers and farmers. These women aren’t just solving problems, they’re building the future of sustainable seafood.
Being a woman in aquaculture isn’t always smooth sailing. But these founders, scientists, and innovators don’t just navigate challenges – they transform them into opportunities. They’re tackling climate change, food security, and sustainability head-on, proving that diversity fuels innovation.
The Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio isn’t just a programme, it’s a launchpad for the next generation of female aquaculture leaders. Their energy is unstoppable, their ideas are groundbreaking, and their impact is only just beginning.
As Mariana Flores Vargas, Hatch Blue’s community manager for LATAM, emphasises: "This initiative is reshaping this industry. Soon, when we picture leaders or innovators, we'll envision more women steering the ship. We'll have more female role models in the region."
Today, we celebrate them. Their journey, their triumphs, and the bright future they’re building in ocean food. Here’s to the women making waves – today, and every day.
For inquiries about Hatch Blue's future Women in Ocean Food programmes please contact Sarah Karner, marketing manager via sarah@hatch.blue
