Aqua Valley Sophiahaven

Although Aqua Valley Sophiahaven is not a place to visit, it is an important example of collaboration in Zeeland's aquaculture sector. In this region, businesses, knowledge institutions and organisations work together on fish, algae, shellfish and seaweed. The goal: sharing knowledge, stimulating innovation and developing new enterprise.

Two participants in this collaboration, Seafarm and the Seaweed Farm, are also located in the Sophiahaven. Other players include Phycom, which produces microalgae. Microalgae are single-celled organisms, essentially seaweed's smaller cousin. Both can play an important role in the future global food system.

Kingfish, known for the yellowtail kingfish, and Hortimare, specialised in seaweed seed, technology and knowledge, are also part of this network. Knowledge institutions such as HZ University of Applied Sciences and Wageningen University & Research contribute as well. Marco Dubbeldam, of the Zeeschelp foundation, also a participant in the project and formerly lead applicant of the Aquavalley project, has his own marine research station here in the Sophiahaven. The foundation focuses on stimulating innovation in (marine) aquaculture, such as new farming techniques for shellfish and crustaceans, echinoderms (sea urchins), fish, algae and seaweed.