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Ecuador's first-ever Shrimp Summit set for 12 to 13 July

Shrimp Biosecurity Welfare +12 more

North American seafood suppliers and retailers are gearing up for an even that showcases the best in Ecuador's shrimp sector.

Ecuador is the largest producer and exporter of whiteleg shrimp

Ecuador has proven to be a constant and reliable supplier of high-quality shrimp © CNA

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) together with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), will host a two-day "Shrimp Summit" in Guayaquil on 12 to 13 July, with the aim of showcasing to key seafood suppliers how shrimp is farmed in Ecuador. With a special focus on highlighting best practices, retail companies and seafood suppliers from North America will experience firsthand the commitment of Ecuadorian producers to comply with the highest quality, social and environmental standards of ASC certification, providing meticulous care in every step of the production cycle.

With its year-round shrimp production, Ecuador has proven to be a constant and reliable supplier of the best shrimp in the world, which has made it the number one producer and exporter of whiteleg shrimp, also known as Pacific white shrimp, worldwide. Its unique natural ecosystems and preferred weather makes Ecuador a perfect place for shrimp farming, but human factors are key to making perfect shrimp production complete.

“Ecuadorian producers are definitely proud of their shrimp. They have demonstrated great capacity to adapt to the needs of the marketplace, while always prioritising the well-being of consumers and employees, as well as preservation of the local ecosystem,” shared Pamela Nath, SSP Director.

“These people are committed to reliability, food safety, sustainability, traceability, and are so determined to challenge the whole industry by proving it is possible to produce premium quality and safe shrimp products. This is the reason why, together with ASC, we’ve decided that Ecuador is the perfect starting point to show a New Way to Seafood”.

The Shrimp Summit will take more than a dozen major retail companies and seafood suppliers to experience how ASC-certified shrimp farming and processing is done in Ecuador. There will be also a workshop between regional producers and North American companies to share their expectations on sustainable sourcing of seafood.

Shrimp ponds in Ecuador

The Shrimp Summit will take more than a dozen major retail companies and seafood suppliers to experience how ASC-certified shrimp farming and processing is done in Ecuador © Exporcareca

“ASC’s collaboration with SSP is a momentous effort to move the entire shrimp industry into a more viable future,” said Peter Redmond, senior market development manager, ASC North America.

“Ecuador’s ASC-certified shrimp producers serve as examples of the ASC standards hard at work. Our mission to transform aquaculture towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility relies on creating value across the chain and that starts at the farm. By giving North American retailers an opportunity to engage directly with Ecuadorian producers and the ASC-labelled products they’re delivering to customers, we’re providing a clear path to understanding that clean, quality, shrimp raised with care and without antibiotics offers a myriad of achievable solutions to businesses and consumers, while maintaining positive impacts on local communities and the environment."

Shrimp pond in Ecuador

Ecuador produced over 2,267 million pounds and exported around 1,855 million pounds of shrimp in 2021 © Marine Akwa

In 2021, Ecuador produced over 2,267 million pounds and exported around 1,855 million pounds, representing close to $5,078 million dollars. Around 406 million pounds were exported to the US alone, generating an increase of 56 percent compared to 2020. The American consumer prefers added value shrimp presentations, such as head-off, peeled and deveined, among others. Ecuador aims to meet this demand and for this reason many processing plants are making investments to expand their shrimp offerings for the USA market.

How do you find the perfect Shrimp? - SSP Blue Box © Sustainable Shrimp Partnership
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