Cooke Inc., a Canada-based division of Cooke Aquaculture Inc., acquired Seajoy Seafood Corp., a Miami, Fla.-based vertically integrated, premium shrimp farm.

“The acquisition of Seajoy is an important element in our focus on product diversification to meet our customers’ needs,” says Glenn Cooke, chief executive officer of Cooke Inc. “Seajoy is a world-leading shrimp producer utilizing the highest quality and food safety standards and newest available technology. This aligns perfectly with our existing aquaculture and wild seafood fishery divisions. We feel Seajoy’s entrepreneurial drive, industry knowledge and care for their communities has made them successful and a big reason why we feel this is an incredible cultural fit.”

Seajoy Seafood produces value-added and organic Pacific white shrimp to customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Seajoy’s shrimp farms, including processing plants, hatcheries and breeding programs, are located in Honduras and Nicaragua.

“We founded Seajoy in Ecuador in 1979 just six years before the Cooke family started Cooke Aquaculture in New Brunswick in 1985,” says Peder Jacobson, former CEO of Seajoy. “Our families drive as pioneering entrepreneurs and our employees’ determination over the years has resulted in two successful independent seafood companies, and now I am extremely pleased to have Seajoy join the Cooke family of companies.”