The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) of North America has announced a first-of-its-kind “shrimp summit” seminar in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The new seminar, taking place 12 to 13 July, 2022, was facilitated in partnership with the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) – also based in Guayaquil, Ecuador. According to the ASC, the new summit aims to unite local market sectors around reducing the environmental and social impacts of shrimp aquaculture in the region.
Ecuador was chosen due to its recently-gained statutre as the number-one exporter of whiteleg shrimp, also known as Pacific white shrimp, or vannamei shrimp. The country shattered its shrimp export records in 2021, attaining USD 5.08 billion (EUR 4.84 billion) in value. It exported total of 1.86 billion pounds of shrimp in 2021, a 24 percent jump over 2020, and produced a total of 2.26 billion pounds.
ASC Senior Market Development Manager Peter Redmond said one of the ASC's primary goals with the event is to drive the growth of its aquaculture certification program by showcasing Ecuador’s high standards.
“As part of our ongoing strategy to connect the marketplace directly to the in-country supply chain, we’re excited to facilitate this seminar and drive the growth of ASC-certified shrimp in Ecuador,” Redmond said. “We’ve chosen Ecuador for this first session due to their extensive, low-density shrimp farming, lack of antibiotic use and safe, high-quality shrimp in the production of ASC-certified and labeled shrimp. With Ecuador’s high standards, we feel it is important for stakeholders in the supply chain to see up-close and personal exactly what it means to practice sustainable shrimp production.”
Participants in the seminar will tour ASC-certified farms and processors, and gain insights into shrimp production. Panels will also be conducted throughout the seminar, “fostering open dialogue between farmers, processors and attendees,” the ASC said. It added that retailers will have the chance to deliver their own messages about what they expect in terms of sustainability and ASC certification.
“Ecuador has always had an innovative aquaculture industry and is constantly adapting its processes to market trends and requirements,” SSP Director Pamela Nath said. “Having the opportunity to experience closely how the best production practices are applied in the Ecuadorian shrimp industry through SSP is key. It demonstrates that the product’s premium quality and safety profile is the result of our producers’ experience and the exhaustive care they apply in each stage of the production cycle, along with the unique conditions provided by our natural ecosystems. Together with ASC, we are committed to improving customers and consumers access to premium and reliable farmed shrimp.”
Photo courtesy of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership
