Private equity and venture capital firms' interest in seafood, aquaculture and ocean-related companies increased significantly during the last year.

Last year saw about 32 deals where financial investors -- private equity firms, venture capital firms or other financial investment firms -- took up ownership of a seafood or ocean-related company. This figure equals an increase of 38 percent, or nine more deals, compared to 2021, according to IntraFish research.*

The 32 transactions during 2022 make up about 40 percent of the roughly 80 companies that saw ownership changes during 2022.