Living Seas Aquafeeds
Mangrove-based aquaculture feeds that protect coastal ecosystems
Crustacean aquaculture in Eastern Indonesia faces a critical bottleneck: the lack of suitable, cost-effective feed for mud crab, lobster, and shrimp. Farmers often rely on low-nutrition “trash fish” or imported shrimp pellets, which result in high feed conversion ratios (FCRs), poor growth, and increased environmental impact. At the same time, mangrove ecosystems, which naturally support healthy crustacean populations, are under threat from deforestation for charcoal, building materials, and coastal development.
THE COMPANY
Living Seas Aquafeeds, based in Lombok, Indonesia, produces high-quality aquaculture feeds and feed supplements for crustacean farmers. By utilising locally sourced ingredients such as mangrove leaves, seaweed, and volcanic minerals, the company creates water-stable feed pellets with low FCRs, reducing feed costs and environmental impact. Their proprietary fermentation and cold-extrusion processes preserve bioactive compounds to enhance crustacean health and growth. Living Seas is also the first to integrate mangrove ecosystem protection into its feed sourcing model, offering financial incentives to landowners to conserve and restore mangroves
THE INVESTMENT
CI Ventures has invested $350,000 to expand Living Seas Aquafeeds’ production capacity, build out the mud crab feed product line, and support raw material sourcing. Approximately $50,000 will be allocated to equipment, $50,000 to salaries, and the remainder to purchasing local ingredients. This investment builds on prior founder funding, grants, and accelerator support to scale the business while maintaining strong social and environmental impact.
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THE IMPACT
By 2029, this investment is projected to:
- Protect over 100 hectares of mangrove ecosystems in Lombok.
- Reduce feed conversion ratios by more than 70% for at least 400 tonnes of lobster and crab produced annually.
- Support sustainable livelihoods and local businesses, providing roughly $20,000 per month in income to suppliers and cooperatives.
- Incentivize further mangrove preservation and restoration through commercial feed demand.