Mission Statement

Providing Excellence throughInnovation and Quality

We believe our first responsibility is our clients who use our products and services. In meeting their needs and demands everything we do must be of the highest quality.

We must constantly strive to reduce our costs in order to maintain reasonable prices for this will enable our clients to be able to afford our services. Customers` demands and problems must be serviced promptly and accurately.

Our suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity to make a fair profit and we should ensure they are paid efficiently and on time – be treated as we would wish to be treated.

We are responsible to our employees, the men and women who work with us throughout the world, as our company is knowledge-based and relies upon these people to solve our clients' problems.

Everyone must be considered as an individual and respect their dignity and recognise their merit. They must have a sense of security in their jobs and pride in the company they work for and pride and confidence in the people they work with.

Compensation must be fair and adequate, and working conditions clean, orderly and safe. We must be mindful of ways to help our employees fulfil their family responsibilities – there is life beyond the office and happiness at home is as important as it is at the office.

Employees must feel free to make suggestions and complaints. There must be equal opportunity for employment, development and advancement for those qualified as well as those who wish to better themselves.

We must experiment with new ideas, develop concepts and research must be carried on, innovative programs developed and new services and technologies offered.

We must provide competent management, and their actions must be just and ethical. We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world community as well. We must be good citizens – supporting good works and charities.

We must encourage civic improvements and better health and education. We must maintain in good order the surroundings we are privileged to use, protecting the environment and natural resources. The environment is our office, our workplace and our future, destroying it we only destroy ourselves.

Our final responsibility is to our shareholders, which are also the staff of the company who must see that their future is secure and their investment worthwhile. Business must make a sound profit for this is the nature of business.

“Quality is the customer coming back – not just the service” 

Environmental Policy

AquaBioTech Group takes it responsibilities towards the environment very seriously. The Group has undertaken a number of initiatives to better understand potential area of environmental challenge and reduce these impacts where possible as well as implement mitigating strategies.

These initiatives have included the creation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) and undertaken actions such as waste reduction planning and recycling of materials via separation of waste streams into plastic, paper, metal, glass and compostable matter. Other efforts include the purchase and "planting of indigenous trees in Malta" so as to mitigate and offset impacts that cannot be further reduced.

Through our operations we also encourage our clients to consider and understand how their business challenges the environment as the understanding of our impacts is the first step towards reducing them.

Operating globally we have a range of environmental responsibilities and we assign high priority to the long-term development of a sustainable business - after all, our business relies on the environment therefore our use should ensure its long-term welfare. This position is ensured by prioritising environmental and social issues in our corporate planning as we consider this as crucial to our reputation, to customer loyalty, to quality and to AquaBioTech Group`s very existence.

Animal Welfare

Aquatic organisms are faced with many threats to their health through natural exposure to stresses and challenges. At AquaBioTech Group we are constantly striving to advance scientific understanding of how technology, nutrition and health management can help fish and shrimp resist and recover from illness, stress and disease. Optimising health status is essential for maintaining fish welfare and in achieving optimum growth of aquaculture species - and research plays a key role in accomplishing these goals.

The ethical and humane treatment of all animals in our care is of the highest priority.

AquaBioTech Group therefore implements the three “Rs” principle where possible and when animal testing is required. The 3Rs are a widely accepted ethical framework for conducting scientific experiments using animals humanely, and consist of:

Replacement - refers to methods that avoid the use of, or replace, animals in research. When discussing research needs with clients, AquaBioTech Group will encourage clients to identify alternatives to animal testing such as in vitro methodologies.

Reduction - refers to methods which minimise animal use and enable researchers to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals or to obtain more information from the same number of animals.

When designing experiments, AquaBioTech Group will attempt where possible to reduce the number of animals used. This can include:

• • Improving experimental design and statistical analysis
  • Carrying out appropriate research (e.g. literature research) to avoid unnecessary testing
  • Reusing experimental animals when no increased risk of pain, suffering or lasting harm is foreseen

Refinement - refers to improvements in scientific procedures and husbandry practices that minimise actual or potential pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm and/or improve animal welfare in situations where the use of animals is unavoidable.

When conducting experiments, AquaBioTech Group will provide the highest standards of care and husbandry to the experimental animals, including:

• • Maintaining appropriate and optimal husbandry conditions
  • Ensuring where possible non-invasive techniques are employed
  • Ensuring suitable humane endpoints are identified

It is also well known that the humane treatment of animal models in scientific experimentation also leads to better and more reliable data, thereby also leading to a reduction in the requirements for animals in repeated experiments. Considerable efforts are therefore made to ensure that our staff and clients follow principles of the 3Rs, including:

• • Maintaining high standards of training in areas such animal handling, anaesthetic use, and performing invasive procedures.
  • Ensuring every member of research staff has a detailed knowledge of the culture systems and species, including their particular environmental needs.
  • Keeping up to date with new techniques and experimental methods.

AquaBioTech Group is also fully licensed by the Malta Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, licence number 07/2021 valid to September 2025 to carry out research with fish.

Equal opportunity gender

Equality between men and women entails the concept that all human beings, both men and women are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without any limitations set by stereotypes, rigid gender roles and prejudices. Gender equity may include equal treatment, which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations and opportunities.

AquaBioTech Group believes and adapts to the equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women employees.

Our company does not discriminate candidates for job opportunities based on their gender and does not give less favourable treatment directly or indirectly to men and women based on their sex, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, racial or ethnic origin, or gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.

AquaBioTech Group treats all of its employees fairly, does not behave less favourably for reasons of actual or potential pregnancy or childbirth, or based on parenthood, family responsibilities or for some other reason related to sex or sexual orientation.

AquaBioTech Group is against any mistreatment based on any practices which would put persons at any disadvantage compared with persons of the other sex, or of the same sex, or sexual orientation. Our company gives equal opportunities for men and women employees in managing their work, getting promoted, participating in training or their working conditions.

AquaBioTech Group implemented an anti-harassment policy to make sure the company’s working environment is free from any offensive behaviour, especially against sex, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, racial or ethnic origin, or gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.

AquaBioTech Group requires all its employees and board members to treat colleagues with maximum dignity and respect and creates an inclusive environment that is free from discrimination, bullying, harassment and victimisation irrespective of age, colour, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. Breaches or alleged breaches of this policy will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated and dealt with under disciplinary procedures where appropriate.

Equal opportunity disability

AquaBioTech Group considers itself to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring employees based on their suitability for a specific role. AquaBioTech Limited does not discriminate on the grounds of disability against a qualified person with disability regarding application procedures, hiring, promotion, dismissal, financial compensation, job training and other privileges related to employment. Our company uses equal hiring process for all future staff members, avoiding operating with qualification standards, employment tests, or other selections that screens out or tend to screen out a person or a class of persons with disability. Positive or negative discrimination is not part of our company and we pride ourselves in our professionalism and ethics.

Breaches or alleged breaches of this policy will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated and dealt with under our disciplinary procedures. All our employees and board members are responsible for treating colleagues with dignity and respect and creating an inclusive culture free from discrimination, bullying, harassment and victimisation irrespective of age, colour, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

AquaBioTech Group does not deny employment opportunities to any disabled person, where such denial is based on the need of the employer to make modifications for the disability of a person. In order that we may be accessible to all persons, we have taken measures to ensure basic requirements such as accessibility to our premises are met to accommodate all persons.

AquaBioTech Group provides ramp access to its building and lifts with brail signs and audible information. Our company is open to acquiring or modifying equipment or devices or making any other similar alterations for a person with a disability upon agreement of the property owner.

When AquaBioTech Group moved offices and as part of the property selection exercise, we ensured that the owner of the property made the building conform with MEPA requirements for disabled access.

Accommodation and adjustments should be made where reasonable to enable people with a disability to perform their jobs focusing on their abilities rather than disabilities thus valuing the contribution they make to the company.