Artemia cysts are a critical live feed in shrimp and fish hatcheries worldwide, with increasing demand driven by global aquaculture growth. However, over 90% of Artemia cysts used globally still originate from wild salt lakes, which face ecological stress, supply volatility, and climate pressures. With the market remaining supply-constrained and dominated by a few producers, Artemia aquaculture can create substantial opportunities for new entrants, particularly in saline or coastal regions with limited agricultural viability.
The World Bank’s PROBLUE Artemia initiative aimed at mapping investment opportunities and scalable business models for Artemia farming systems across diverse geographies. All target Artemia producing or potential countries show a general supply deficit (Figure 1).
We conducted technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of Artemia production across multiple geographies (China, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Kenya), identifying scalable models suitable for both public and private sector investment. Business opportunities were identified in cyst harvesting, processing, hatchery integration, and in value-added products such as enriched Artemia and biomass for nutraceutical use. The report also evaluates enabling conditions, including water salinity, land availability, infrastructure, and governance frameworks.
This paper serves as a foundational resource for stakeholders seeking to invest in or support the development of Artemia value chains, positioning it as a high-value, low-footprint aquaculture frontier with significant socio-economic and environmental co-benefits.