October 28, 2014

Ecuador shrimp production seen to grow 25% in 2014

Ecuador is expected to increase its shrimp production by 25% this year from last year, according to the country's National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA).

José Camposano, CNA president, said shrimp production is projected to jump to 540 million pounds this year from 475 million last year, with revenue rising to US$2.5 billion from US$1.8 billion a year ago.

Camposano attributes the increase in output to improved production process. He acknowledged that the growth rate was driven by medium and small farms that invested on technology.

Camposano said Ecuadorian shrimps are among the best in the world, having obtained quality certifications for proper environmental management, among other things, from international organizations.

Also, he added, Ecuador boasts the first shrimp farm to get the World Wide Fund for Nature seal for aquaculture sustainability.

Ecuador's shrimp industry employs around 180,000 workers in at least 3,000 farms totalling 210,000 hectares.

In five of the first eight months this year shrimp displaced banana as the country's No. 1 export item, according to data gathered from the Central Bank of Ecuador.