Grown by nature, guided by family: The Lubimar aquaculture story

Lubimar extensive fish farming, seen from above.
©Lubimar

More than 30 years ago, Don Antonio Hernández Barrera stood under the Andalusian sun, gazing across the serene estuaries of Barbate. To most, those were simply quiet wetlands; to him, it was the canvas for a family dream. So began Esteros Lubimar, a business that would come to be a pioneering aquaculture farm, thriving in harmony with the natural estuarine ecosystem.

Today, under the leadership of the four Hernández sons, and with support from the European Union, the farm produces more than two million kilos of high-quality sea bream and sea bass each year. Their product is valued precisely for its natural cultivation methods, low environmental impact and, above all, the unique taste of responsibly grown fish.

Video: Lubimar – Nature and aquaculture growing in harmony

Paradise ponds

At the heart of Lubimar’s success is its extensive aquaculture model: a gentle method where technology supports, rather than controls, the rhythms of the nature. Where human interventions enhance natural processes to increase the productivity of the species.

Located in the Barbate marshlands, Lubimar’s vast ponds are fed by the nutrient-rich saltwater of the Barbate Sea. It provides ideal conditions to raise sea bream and sea bass in harmony with the environment. It has simultaneously become a refuge for bird species such as the European flamingo and western osprey, seen to the farmers as a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Below the surface, the fish swim freely in waters and feed on wild shrimp, known as camarones.

“Shrimp is to our sea bream and sea bass what acorns are to Iberian pork,” says the team at Lubimar. “It defines the flavour, texture and appearance of our fish.”

Wild shrimp is the primary feed for fish at Lubimar
©Lubimar

Thanks to this environment, artificial feed is reduced to a minimum. But natural feed is not the only advantage of farming in the estuaries; at Lubimar, the stocking density is just three kilos of fish per cubic meter of water, which is remarkably low compared to conventional practices.

In addition, the fish are allowed to grow slowly and naturally, taking at least three years to reach the market size of approximately one kilo. Every detail – from their diet to the way they are harvested – is designed to promote animal welfare, environmental sustainability and exceptional product quality.

The human side of aquaculture

Years of dedication, hard work, and the strength of family ties, has allowed Esteros Lubimar to successfully expand into multiple sales channels. While at the beginning it sold mainly to local fishmongers and catering establishments, their products are now sold to 15 different countries.

The company employs more than 100 people, many of whom come from other sectors that experienced rising unemployment following the financial crisis. At Esteros Lubimar, they have all been retrained and now hold stable jobs in a coastal area that has long faced challenges in retaining its population.

“We have invested a lot in the birth rate in Barbate,” they say with a smile at Lubimar. “We are a driver of the local economy. This is what social sustainability really means.”

At Lubimar, sustainability is important; not only in the way the ponds and fish are managed, but also in how the employees are treated. Everyone is considered equally important in achieving top-quality results. With three daily shifts running year-round, no one is ever alone; employees always work in pairs to ensure a healthy and sustainable working environment.

EU funding has helped to create a sustainable future

Much of Lubimar’s evolution was made possible through EU funding, which has supported numerous projects – from a solar-powered energy system, to an oxygen generation plant that maintains ideal pond conditions, and tools that have optimised both production and ecosystem services.

At its heart, the Lubimar story remains a family story: four brothers carrying forward their father’s vision of a belief, that the best harvest comes when you grow with nature, not against it.