Over 40 Years of Passion: The Story of STM aquatrade - now the Aquamiks project.

STM Aquatrade was founded in the early 1980s by a group of young researchers from the SIRAP facility in Pellestrina, where they were pioneering controlled reproduction techniques for sea bass and sea bream. It was a time when Mediterranean marine aquaculture was still in its infancy—a little-known sector with only a handful of operational farms. Yet, along the coasts, interest was growing rapidly, and the demand for “experts” (even very young ones) was on the rise.

The Early Days: Pioneering a New Industry

Back then, starting a career in aquaculture was no small feat. It required endless motivation, a willingness to travel, and the adaptability to work in countries with different languages and cultures. The challenges were constant, but so were the rewards.

“In the 1980s, producing a million juvenile fish seemed almost unattainable for sea bass, and downright unimaginable for sea bream,” recalls one of STM’s founders. “At the time, sea bream fetched sky-high prices due to its rarity, making it a coveted species for farming.”

From the early 1980s to the late 1990s, STM was deeply involved in constructing and managing over 20 hatcheries across the Mediterranean. These projects, developed for private investors and international organizations alike, laid the groundwork for today’s thriving aquaculture sector. Remarkably, many of those facilities are still operational today, a testament to the lasting impact of STM’s work.

Challenges and Resilience

The journey was far from smooth. STM operated as a small Italian company in an industry dominated by large, resource-rich international consultancy firms that often lacked the specialized expertise STM brought to the table.

“We felt like a small anchovy surrounded by predators,” one team member reflects. “But despite the odds, we carved out a space for ourselves through determination and a focus on quality.”

Over time, the demand for new hatcheries and facility management began to slow, and the founding team, now with families and new priorities, took a step back from the constant travel and daily grind of building new projects.

A Legacy of Collaboration and Innovation

Looking back, the founders of STM aquatrade are filled with pride. “It’s been an incredible journey. After 40 years, being able to reconnect with the same colleagues through the Aquamiks project and still share the enthusiasm and motivation that started it all is priceless.”

STM aquatrade remains a vital force in the aquaculture industry, proud to have contributed to the success of Mediterranean aquaculture from the very beginning. Today, the company continues to support the sector with innovative solutions, unwavering dedication, and the same pioneering spirit that defined its early days.

The Aquamiks projects it is just one of the many way in which the young generation together with the older one works to keep the legacy alive.