Government seeks to control shrimp business in Ecuador

On last Monday, the minister of Industry and Productivity, Ramiro Gonzalez, visited the headquarters of the National Aquaculture Chamber, where the possibility that the sanitary control of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors could pass to the Ministry of Public Health, arose.

“We believe it is wrong that the National Institute of Hygiene assume the responsibilities that had been carried out with good results by the National Fisheries Institute (INP), through a public-private work,” said the president of the Chamber, Jose Antonio Camposano.

“If the measure established by the Ministry of Public Health is approved, the whole learning curve and investments made by the INP to fulfill its role, would be lost. The Minister offered to review the situation in order to avoid a problem,” said Camposano.

Ecuadorian shrimp production

Meanwhile, the U.S. Commerce Department decided, preliminarily, that the Ecuadorian shrimp will not pay custom tariffs when exported to the North American country.

The resolution is a result of the complaint filed by the Coalition of Gulf Shrimp Industry, American guild, which last December accused several countries, including Ecuador, of using subsidies that cheapened production and generated an alleged unfair competition.

Since the indictment not only involved the domestic private sector, but the whole State, the defense was organized in conjunction with the Foreign Ministry, which helped to deliver a rapid and professional response.

However, the process is still at a preliminary stage, so U.S. will make a visit to Ecuador to conduct a spot check of the evidence initially submitted. After the visit, the decision of not charging fees could change. The final decision will be informed by mid-August, according to the Chamber of Aquaculture.