Barramundi is a fish with a naturally international identity. Known as Asian Sea Bass in many parts of the world and Barramundi in others, it has become increasingly popular with chefs, retailers and seafood consumers looking for a mild, versatile white fish.
For Round Island Barramundi, that story begins in Trincomalee Bay on Sri Lanka’s For Round Island Barramundi, the story begins in Trincomalee Bay on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast. Known for its natural harbour, the bay is also home to South Asia’s first oceanic fish farm, where barramundi are raised in the open sea.
From these offshore waters, Round Island Barramundi now makes its way to markets beyond Sri Lanka, including Germany, Australia, the USA, Denmark and the Maldives, with distribution extending into wider international markets.
What connects these markets is not simply the demand for barramundi. It is a growing appreciation for seafood that combines quality, consistency, traceability and responsible farming.
Sri Lankan waters
Trincomalee Bay isn’t just scenic. It’s functionally ideal for aquaculture. The bay offers deep, clear, consistently warm water, strong tidal flushing, and a near-total absence of heavy industrial activity along its shoreline. That combination matters enormously for fish health and product quality: strong currents carry away waste and keep oxygen levels high, while the lack of industrial run-off keeps the surrounding marine environment clean. It’s the same reason Trincomalee has long been recognised as one of the finest natural harbours anywhere in the world.
Oceanpick, the company behind the Round Island brand, was established in 2012 in partnership with Kames Fish Farming of Scotland, bringing international cage-farming expertise to Sri Lankan waters for the first time. Since then, the operation has grown from a single pioneering site into a fully integrated farming and hatchery business, harvesting barramundi (Lates calcarifer — known locally as “modha”) from open ocean pens on a weekly basis, year-round.
Sustainably raised in the ocean
Sustainability is built into how Round Island Barramundi is farmed. Oceanpick raises its barramundi in offshore sea cages in Trincomalee Bay, where natural currents and tidal movement provide a continuous flow of seawater. Farming in the open ocean allows the fish to grow in a natural marine environment while reducing the need for enclosed land-based systems.
The farm follows practices designed to minimise its impact on the surrounding marine environment. Fish are raised without antibiotics, and the farming system relies on the natural movement of the sea rather than artificial water circulation. Careful management of stocking levels, feeding and farm operations helps maintain healthy conditions for both the fish and the surrounding waters.
These efforts are backed by recognised sustainability standards. Oceanpick’s farm is certified under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards, while its operations also follow recognised social and environmental standards through certifications and independent verification.
The company’s approach has also received recognition beyond its certifications. In 2025, Oceanpick was named one of the Top finalists globally in the UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Awards in the Sustainable Supply Chains category. More recently, in July 2026, Oceanpick won the Sustainable Blue Economy Initiative category at the Sri Lankan Sustainability Awards 2026, recognising its contribution to sustainable aquaculture, marine stewardship and the development of Sri Lanka’s blue economy.
For Round Island Barramundi, sustainability is therefore not simply a claim on the label. It is reflected in how the fish is farmed, how the surrounding environment is managed and the standards against which Oceanpick’s work is measured.
A fish with a story behind it
Oceanpick’s operation has grown from roughly a dozen people at founding to a workforce of around sixty, the majority of whom work directly on the farms and in the hatchery — the Alain Michel Hatchery, named in honour of the French aquaculture veteran who helped shape the company’s early breeding programmes.
Marine biologists and aquaculture specialists manage fish health and water conditions daily. Farm crews handle feeding, monitoring and harvesting across the pens, while processing teams take fish from harvest through to chilled or frozen, export-ready product.
It’s this combination of technical expertise and hands-on farming discipline — much of it Sri Lankan talent working alongside international aquaculture know-how — that has allowed Oceanpick to supply a growing network of international customers.
Its client list already includes global hospitality names such as Hilton, Marriott, Shangri-La, Anantara and Jumeirah, alongside leading Sri Lankan hotels and resorts.
From Trincomalee to International Markets
Oceanpick’s international journey has developed steadily over the years. Round Island Barramundi is now supplied to markets including the USA, Germany, Denmark, Australia and the Maldives, with European distribution supported through its partnership with Danish seafood company Kangamiut Seafood.
Each market brings its own consumers, culinary traditions, regulations and expectations. Reaching them requires more than producing a good fish. It requires the ability to maintain quality, meet international standards and deliver consistently across borders.
The company’s expansion into Europe marked an important step in this journey. Through its partnership with Kangamiut Seafood, Oceanpick gained access to an established European distribution network, opening another chapter in the global journey of its ocean-raised barramundi.
Today, the journey continues to expand. From Sri Lanka’s eastern waters to seafood markets across multiple continents, Round Island Barramundi represents a growing international story built around one simple idea: that exceptional seafood can be produced responsibly, right here in the Indian Ocean.
Partner for a Better Seafood Future
From the tidal currents of Trincomalee Bay to the seafood aisles and hotel kitchens all over the world, Round Island Barramundi’s journey reflects a broader shift in global seafood: consumers, retailers and investors are increasingly looking for producers who can combine genuine sustainability credentials with consistent, premium quality at scale. Oceanpick has spent over a decade building exactly that – an offshore farming model, an internationally certified supply chain, and a brand story rooted in one of the world’s great natural harbours.
For retail buyers, hospitality groups and investors evaluating the seafood category, Round Island Barramundi offers a rare combination: a fish the market already knows and loves, grown to a standard that sets it apart. Let’s talk!