Neil Sims is an Australian/American marine biologist (James Cook University, UNSW) who has led breakthrough developments in marine fish hatchery technology, open ocean mariculture systems, and untethered open ocean ‘drifter pens.’

Neil originally worked in fisheries management in the South Pacific, and pioneered many advances in pearl culture. Recognizing the imperative for expansion of marine fish production, he co-founded Kona Blue Water Farms in 2001, and obtained the venture financing to grow the company into a world leader in commercial offshore fish culture technology. Kona Blue produced 500 tons of sashimi-grade Kona Kampachi® in 2008, worth almost $6 million.

Neil co-founded Kampachi Farms in 2011 to pursue ‘next generation’ technologies and broader opportunities in open ocean mariculture. Most recently, Neil co-founded Kampachi Worldwide Holdings, which will serve as the vehicle to further deploy technologies pioneered by Kampachi Farms and fulfill the mission of expansion of Cabo Kampachi™ (Seriola rivoliana) production globally. The company’s first commercial hatchery and offshore farm are currently under development in La Paz, Mexico, with additional farms planned for Middle East and South-East Asia.