An additional five farms in Ecuador have met Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) standards for shrimp production, which requires Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification, 100 percent traceability, zero use of antibiotics, and a net neutral impact on the environment.
The SSP is an initiative launched in 2018 by a group of Ecuadorian shrimp farming companies with the goal of increasing the standards of Ecuadorian shrimp production.
The new SSP farms include two farms – Marfrisco and Quiñónez – operated by Promarisco, a subsidiary of Nueva Pescanova with farms; and three farms run by Grupo Lanec – Corporación Lanec, Bellitec, and Greentrailcorp.
"We are happy to welcome these five new farms that have shown sharing SSP goal of producing premium quality shrimp that meets the highest social and environmental standards, ensuring a healthy, nutritious, and pure product for consumers," SSP Director Pamela Nath. "Through SSP, we are demonstrating that it is possible to work collaboratively to ensure a sustainable future for aquaculture."
Grupo Nueva Pescanova Vannamei Aquaculture Director praised the SSP’s effort to set a high standard for the Ecuadorian shrimp sector.
"We are pleased to be part of the SSP, which is undoubtedly a reference for the global shrimp industry, demonstrating how aquaculture can be done in a responsible manner, complying with high standards and without the use of antibiotics, to offer consumers not only a premium quality shrimp but also a healthy product,” Sánchez said.
The standards used at each of the farms were evaluated and verified ICONTEC (The Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification). Grupo Lanec CEO Alex Olsen urged more Ecuadorian shrimp farmers to join SSP’s movement toward more rigorously evaluated farms.
"We have worked as a team for several decades in this industry, and at Grupo Lanec we have focused on building our business for the future," Olsen said. “The success and sustainability of the shrimp industry will only be possible if we are committed to implementing the best aquaculture practices, encouraging other actors to join this commitment. That's why we are proud to be part of SSP.”
Photo courtesy of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership