For the first time in its nearly 30-year history, AquaExpo – an annual event that hosts discussions on Ecuadorian shrimp production – hosted a sustainability forum, in which experts at the event’s 2024 edition examined how the industry has developed – and how it can move toward more responsible, sustainable, and transparent practices to drive better aquaculture performance.
“Ecuadorian producers have already proven that it is possible to produce shrimp of the highest quality in a way that is safe for both people and the environment. This journey, which we call Race to the Top, has been shaped by commitment, discipline, and strategy, and this is the message we want to convey to stakeholders in our industry and to those from other sectors,” Sustainable Shrimp Partnership Director Pamela Nath said during the opening speech of the new forum. “In this race, we can all cross the finish line together. This is a race for sustainability, where business success can positively impact the future of our planet.”
The newly founded forum featured 15 panels, with over 35 national and international industry experts.
During a panel titled “Governance: Leading the pack. Cultivating the future of the industry; elevating standards in aquaculture,” Sandro Coglitore, the CEO of one of Ecuador’s largest shrimp producers Omarsa, said that the Ecuadorian shrimp-farming industry first began to heavily prioritize sustainability after white spot syndrome hit the country’s shrimp farms in 1999 and rocked the sector through 2002.
“Before 2002, the focus was on density of shrimp in the ponds and antibiotics use. After the disease and the sector recovery, the shrimp industry’s focus is now on sales prices, nutritionally balanced shrimp feed, and the price of credit,” he said.
Alex Olsen, the CEO of shrimp-farming firm Grupo Lanec, agreed that the lessons …
