July 6, 2010

More Ecuadorian shrimp farms to be evicted

Unable to meet the agricultural purposes for which they were designed, 101 operating shrimp farms covering approximately 4,000 hectares will be passed into state hands.

This was announced by the director of the Institute of Agrarian Development (INDA), Manuel Solano, who said that a complete list of shrimp farms affected by official action will be known on Wednesday (July 7).

In this regard, the president of the National Chamber of Aquaculture(CNA), César Monge, said that only when the affected properties are known can one confirm whether there was a misuse of the land.

Solano recalled that in mid-June, the Government told shrimp producers operating in plots of 0-10 hectares to legalise their activities within three months.

During this second stage, the authorities expect over 10,000 hectares of shrimp farms to be regularised.

In this regard, the Ministry of Environment confirmed that the shrimp farm Luisfer was evicted last week. The farm is located in the ecological reserve of Churute, in the province of Guayas. That measure allowed the recovery of over 200 hectares, which are to be reforested.

Meanwhile, the analysis of 37 processes continues, whose results will be released this week, said Solano.

At this moment, the INDA is in a transition process to be completed in six months from May 28.

By Executive Decree 373, the entity is closed to create the Secretariat for Land and Agrarian Development.