Developing low-impact, high-value opportunities across aquaculture, algae, bioactives, blue technology and marine biotechnology.
Sustainable Blue Growth
Sustainable Blue Growth
Developing low-impact, high-value opportunities across aquaculture, algae, bioactives, blue technology and marine biotechnology.
Unlocking the potential of marine and freshwater resources
Aotearoa New Zealand is currently realising only a small proportion of the sustainable potential of our vast marine environment. Our Sustainable Blue Growth mission is focused on unlocking more of that opportunity while protecting the ecosystems on which it depends.
Sustainable blue growth isn't simply about producing more. It's about a fundamental shift from commodity production, toward regenerative, climate-resilient systems that deliver high value while enhancing the ecosystems they depend on.
Aquaculture, algae, and marine bioactives offer the most immediate and scalable pathways to grow New Zealand's ocean economy. But unlocking that potential requires integrated innovation across breeding, husbandry, health, monitoring, and technology. That's precisely where Cawthron's science comes in.
We work with government, iwi/hapū, industry, philanthropic organisations and other research institutes, via public and privately-funded research programmes, and private consulting services.
Summary of key actions:
Enable shellfish hatchery development, innovation and application
Domesticate new aquatic species and co-design pathways to market
Develop high-value products from aquatic species
Integrate climate and disease resilience approaches
Develop an ocean technology pipeline
Develop new technologies for growing shellfish and seaweed
Enable shellfish hatchery development, innovation and application
Cawthron develops the science, capability and technologies needed to support reliable shellfish hatchery production.
Our work includes selective breeding, quantitative genetics, cryopreservation, reproduction, larval rearing, nutrition and husbandry for species including mussels and oysters.
We work with commercial producers, iwi and Māori enterprises, restoration organisations and environmental partners to expand access to hatchery-produced seed and support its use in aquaculture and restoration.
Domesticate new aquatic species and co-design pathways to market
Cawthron is developing the knowledge and production methods needed to bring new aquatic species into reliable cultivation.
This includes research into reproduction, broodstock management, larval development, nutrition, husbandry, genetics and growing conditions.
Species of interest include geoduck, kopakopa, flat oysters, scallops, karengo and other seaweeds and freshwater species.
Developing new species can create additional opportunities for aquaculture businesses, support Māori economic aspirations and strengthen the resilience of the sector by reducing reliance on a small number of established species.
Cawthron works with businesses and partners to develop practical pathways from scientific research to viable aquatic products and markets.
We bring together expertise in species development, production, processing, product characterisation, analytical testing and market requirements.
By collaborating early in the development process, we can help ensure that new species and products respond to real commercial opportunities and customer needs.
Develop high-value products from aquatic organisms
Cawthron researches and develops high-value products from a wide range of aquatic organisms.
Our scientists investigate the properties and potential applications of seaweed, microalgae, cyanobacteria, shellfish and other species. This work can extend from discovery and characterisation through to cultivation, processing, pilot-scale production and analytical validation.
Applications include low-carbon foods, feeds and ingredients, natural products, nutraceutical and cosmetic ingredients and marine toxin reference standards.
We work with biotechnology companies, food and feed producers, analytical laboratories, medical and pharmaceutical organisations and academic research partners.
Integrate climate and disease resilience approaches
Cawthron combines breeding, physiology and nutrition research to help aquaculture species and production systems respond to climate change and disease.
Our scientists investigate how genetics, environmental conditions, animal health and nutrition influence survival, performance and resilience.
This integrated approach supports the development of aquaculture species that are better able to tolerate changing temperatures, disease pressures and other environmental stressors.
We work with aquaculture companies, universities, research organisations, vaccine developers and feed producers to translate this research into practical industry outcomes.
Develop an ocean technology pipeline
Cawthron develops and tests technologies that improve the collection and use of data in marine environments.
This includes sensors, ocean-observing systems, field-survey technologies and tools that collect information about environmental and farm conditions.
By connecting reliable environmental data with practical decision-making tools, these technologies can support real-time marine farm management, scientific research and the development of other offshore industries.
We work with aquaculture businesses, technology developers and offshore and marine renewable-energy companies to test technologies in real-world conditions and support their progression towards practical use.
Develop new technologies for growing shellfish and seaweed
Cawthron develops and evaluates new systems for cultivating shellfish and seaweed in coastal and offshore environments.
Our work combines biological research with engineering, environmental monitoring and production-system design.
We investigate how growing structures, species requirements, site conditions and farm operations interact, helping partners develop systems that are productive, practical and suited to more exposed marine environments.
We work with marine farmers, engineering and technology companies, offshore infrastructure providers, iwi and Māori enterprises and regulators to develop and test new approaches to aquatic production.
Advancing Ecological Aquaculture
Beyond our core services, Cawthron is investing in a long-term flagship science platform - Advancing Ecological Aquaculture: Food within planetary limits - that applies ecological principles to design and manage aquaculture systems that go beyond food production to actively enhance ecosystem function, climate resilience, and economic performance.
Through integrated land-based, coastal, and open ocean pilots, co-designed Living Labs with iwi and industry, and robust monitoring frameworks, this Platform will develop the tools and models that will underpin the next generation of New Zealand aquaculture. Industry partners who engage now will help shape the science and be first to benefit from it.
News and case studies
Work with us
Cawthron works with aquaculture businesses, iwi and Māori organisations, government, researchers, technology developers and product companies to advance sustainable blue growth.
Whether you are developing a species, product, production system or technology, we can bring together the research, technical and analytical capability needed to move an opportunity forward.
