Ecuador’s National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA) and the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) have launched a program that seeks to improve the country’s shrimp larvae production.
The “Scale Up Program for Shrimp Hatcheries” was launched by both organizations at the end of February during the AquaExpo Santa Elena event in the coastal city of Salinas.
The idea behind the program is to ensure sustainability practices throughout the entire production chain, including initial stages, and provide recognition to those hatcheries committed to bettering product quality and environmental and social impact, according to SSP Director Pamela Nath.
The program offers tools for shrimp hatcheries to implement efficient, responsible practices in all their operations, including the SSP-developed Technical Guide for the Sustainability of Shrimp Hatcheries – the first manual focused on establishing specific regulations for the sustainability of shrimp larvae production in Ecuador. The manual’s main focus is on regulatory compliance, ensuring adequate infrastructure, responsible resource utilization, storage, sanitation, biosecurity, environmental impact, and social responsibility.
Other activities, including training sessions and audits, were designed to support hatcheries in assessing regulatory compliance and defining areas for improvement.
“In addition to enhancing industry standards, this program reinforces Ecuador’s commitment to sustainability and consolidates our reputation as responsible leaders in global shrimp production,” CNA Executive President José Antonio Camposano said. “This initiative also ensures strong relationships with our consumers, who increasingly value sustainability when making purchasing decisions.”
SSP associate member Inve Aquaculture also played an active role in the project's development. According to Inve Aquaculture Ecuador Area Manager Xavier Valdez, the program’s practices aim to bolster biosecurity measures and advanced water treatment processes while reducing chemicals used in live food production to minimize waste discharge.
CNA is participating with a number of member companies exhibiting at the 2024 Seafood Expo North America 2024, taking place 10 to 12 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. The participating companies include Aquagold, Cofimar, Crimasa, Edpacif, Expalsa, Exportquilsa, Expotuna, Frigolandia, Langosmar, Limbomar, Natluk, Nirsa, Omarsa, Procamaronex, Proexpo, Promarosa, Songa, SSP, and Total Seafood.
The Ecuadorian “First Class Shrimp” pavilion at the show will occupy 288 square meters (3,100 square feet), which will be its largest-ever exhibition at the event.
