Shrimp highlights its value in the world

Ecuadornews:

The Ecuadorian shrimp does not fall asleep, nor does the current drain it. On the contrary, it goes to the trend of consumers in the world: that of responsible production. If not say Songa, Santa Priscilla, Omarsa, Lanec, Naturisa, the shrimp farms Nile River, Psalms, Lebama, Agromarina and Produmar, leading the initiative Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP).

The National Chamber of Aquaculture explains it this way: “It is a sustainability initiative with the commitment to grow shrimp with the highest standards, with zero use of antibiotics and completely traceable.” That is, the entire journey is known, from when the larva is purchased until the product is sold in supermarkets. “This is an international level project whose purpose is to guarantee not only the quality of the product but also its sustainable management with respect to the environment and the adequate use of inputs that do not affect the consumer or the environment that surrounds them,” he explains to Diario EXPRESO.

Eduardo Egas, executive president of the Corporation for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (Corpei). The initiative was launched this week in Boston, USA and has an advisory council integrated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Certification. Shrimp surpassed banana last year as the country’s main non-oil export product, with sales of 3,037 million dollars (versus the $ 3,034 million of bananas).

This reflects the high responsibility of those who lead the Ecuadorian industry, not only for an adequate management of their activity, but also to guarantee respect for their clients, notes Egas, after emphasizing that “this puts the vanguard at the forefront of these themes.”

Ecuador is the fourth supplier of shrimp in captivity in the United States and the first producer in America, far from its competitors in this part of the world. And every day its power increases: last year it sold 438 thousand metric tons, 18.1% more in relation to 2016, generating 17.7% more foreign currency, according to data from the Central Bank.

Nancy Cely Icaza, former Executive Director of the Chamber of Aquaculture, highlights that this initiative places Ecuador in the # 1 position not only in the world shrimp sector, but also in many other food producing sectors, especially directed to developed countries, over which the Consumers have increasing misgivings about the conditions in which they are being cultivated.

The SSP also includes water quality and differentiates the shrimp from Ecuador that is sold under this certification from all other shrimp offered from other sources, as well as giving direct access to importers that serve socially and environmentally responsible buyers to satisfy this segment that is in high growth.

Voices 

José Antonio Camposano, CEO of the Chamber

Shrimp is considered a commodity, with which price has often been more important than quality. But there are consumers who want more options.

Rodrigo Laniado, founding member of SSP 

We learned a few years ago that the environment is the best friend of the shrimpers and today we are producing more shrimp and we are more and more sustainable.

To know 

The conditions 

There are parameters that companies that wish to be members must meet.

Required certification 

The product must comply with the ASC certification.

A program 

The industry will work with small and medium-sized farms to help improve their practices and certify them. Informed consumer Consumers will be made aware of the subject. (I)

source: http://www.expreso.ec/economia/camaron-mercadointernacional-acuacultura-ecuador-negocios-IA2075974