Prawns Alive Aquaculture
Sustainable Shrimp Farming
Kilifi County, Kenya

Transforming Shrimp Aquaculture on the Kenyan Coast

Supplying tasty, fresh and sustainable shrimp locally, regionally and globally through inland biofloc technology and community-powered farming.

Discover Our Story
About Us

Setting Up Africa Differently

With a projected supply gap of 1.5 million metric tons by 2050, Africa is the only remaining continent with the conditions to expand shrimp farming. But the question is whether we repeat the destruction seen in Southeast Asia or prove there is another way.

Prawns Alive Aquaculture is choosing to farm inland, in closed systems, away from the coast entirely. Founded in 2025 and now fully operational, we are pioneering sustainable shrimp aquaculture in Kilifi County, Kenya, using biofloc technology and a hub-and-spoke model with smallholder out-grower farmers.

81+
B2B Customers
4x
Income vs. Traditional Catch
85%+
Customer Retention
Shrimp farm ponds in Kilifi County, Kenya
Our Purpose

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

To disrupt the global shrimp sector with sustainable technologies that protect ecosystems while delivering high-quality protein to local and international markets.

Our Vision

To lead Africa in producing tasty, affordable, and sustainably farmed shrimp, while fostering community growth and environmental conservation across the continent.

Our Technology

How We Farm Shrimp Without Harming the Environment

Inland closed systems powered by biofloc technology. A circular, regenerative model where every output becomes an input.

01

We Move Inland

All production moves away from the coast, protecting mangrove ecosystems and coastal biodiversity. No ponds built on mangrove land.

02

We Close the System

Water is pumped in once at the start of the cycle. From that point, nothing goes in or out until harvest. Zero water exchange, zero discharge.

03

The Challenge

In a closed system, shrimp are fed 3 times daily and continuously excrete. Nitrogen waste builds up rapidly and must be managed carefully.

04

Biofloc Technology

We add a carbon source to the water. Beneficial bacteria convert nitrogen waste into high-protein biofloc clusters that clean the water and become feed for the shrimp.

93%

Less water than traditional farming

30%

Reduction in feed costs

Zero

Environmental discharge

Our Hub Farm

Vertically Integrated: From Hatch to Harvest

We control every stage of production at our nucleus farm in Kilifi County. From breeding and hatching post-larvae in Kenya's first commercial shrimp hatchery, to growing them out in inland closed-system biofloc tanks.

Commercial shrimp hatchery tanks
Stage 1

Commercial Hatchery

Kenya's first and only commercial-scale shrimp hatchery. This is the foundation of our entire hub-and-spoke model.

  • Produces high-quality post-larvae with strong genetics
  • Supplies seed to our own grow-out tanks and out-grower farms
  • Controlled environment for biosecurity and consistency
  • Enables the entire sector to scale in Kenya
Inland biofloc shrimp grow-out tanks
Stage 2

Inland Grow-Out Tanks

Our closed-system biofloc tanks are where the shrimp grow from post-larvae to harvest-ready size, entirely inland and away from the coast.

  • Zero water exchange, zero environmental discharge
  • Biofloc bacteria manage water quality and supplement feed
  • Multiple harvests per year for consistent supply
  • Tech-enabled monitoring of temperature, growth, and feeding
1
Broodstock
→
2
Hatchery
→
3
Nursery
→
4
Grow-Out
→
5
Harvest
→
6
Market
Community Model

Hub & Spoke: Shared Growth

We are building a network of smallholder community out-grower farms across the coast of Kenya. Our success depends on their success. This is not aid. Our incentives are fully aligned.

Out-grower farmers at pond site in Kilifi

Their Growth Is Our Growth

70% of Kilifi County lives below the poverty line. Shrimp farming at $10-12/kg provides 4x the income of traditional ocean catch at $3/kg, delivering stable, year-round income to communities that have never had it.

What We Provide

  • Seed (post-larvae from our hatchery)
  • Feed and technical inputs
  • On-site training and farm management tools
  • Guaranteed market access and offtake
  • Cold storage infrastructure

Impact Targets

15
Community farms by 2026
500+
Farmers supported
4
Harvests per year
$10-12
Per kg selling price
Community farmers celebrating at pond site Out-grower farmer network in Kilifi County
What We Grow

Our Products

Premium, sustainably farmed shrimp from the Kenyan coast. Fresh, frozen, and always in supply.

Black Tiger Shrimp

Black Tiger Shrimp

Premium quality, large-size shrimp farmed using sustainable biofloc methods. Ideal for restaurants, hotels, and export markets.

Fresh Harvest Shrimp

Fresh Harvest

Farm-to-table freshness delivered in cold chain packaging. Available for B2B and direct-to-consumer orders across Nairobi and the coast.

Bulk Supply Shrimp

Bulk Supply

Consistent, year-round supply for commercial buyers. Multiple harvests per year ensure reliable volume at competitive pricing.

Why It Matters

Our Impact

A system that produces food, feeds farmland, and protects ecosystems, by design.

Carbon Reduction

Biofloc technology reduces feed usage by 30%. Feed production has the highest carbon footprint in shrimp farming. Our circular model turns waste into food.

Economic Resilience

Shrimp is a high-value product that can provide stable, consistent income to vulnerable coastal communities, replacing boom-bust cycles of subsistence fishing.

Biodiversity

Inland shrimp farming ensures mangrove biodiversity stays intact. It also reduces pressure on wild-caught shrimp from destructive bottom trawling.

The People

Our Founding Team

Deep aquaculture expertise spanning decades of experience across Africa, Asia, and global fisheries.

Roy - Co-founder & CEO

Roy

Co-founder & CEO

15+ years transforming global fisheries. UN, FAO, and World Bank collaboration experience. Balances conservation with profitability.

Justin - Co-founder & COO

Justin

Co-founder & COO

Specializes in optimizing production systems and operations for long-term growth. Launched the first and only crab hatchery in Africa.

Racha - Co-founder & CCO

Racha

Co-founder & CCO

8+ years in commercial aquaculture in Africa. Built tilapia and catfish value chains across East Africa. Proven export specialist.

Edmar - CTO Aquaculture

Edmar

CTO - Aquaculture

Nearly two decades in mud crab, prawn, and fish hatcheries. Specialized in launching and scaling production from scratch.

Partnerships & Support

Backed By

Gatsby Africa Delta 40 - A Studio at Factor[E] TECA powered by BFA Global German Cooperation - GIZ
Get In Touch

Let's Talk

Whether you're a buyer, potential partner, farmer, or investor, we'd love to hear from you.

Location

Hub Farm: Kilifi County, Kenya
Sales: Nairobi, Kenya