The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Labeyrie Fine Foods and Ecuadorian shrimp producer Omarsa are joining forces to restore 10 hectares of mangroves in Ecuador.
Announced at the Seafood Expo Global 2025 in Barcelona, the partnership signals a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible seafood sourcing.
The project, based in Cerrito de los Morreños near Omarsa’s farms in the Gulf of Guayaquil, aims to plant 10,000 red mangrove trees and support local livelihoods.
“This partnership represents a positive step in demonstrating how seafood farming can support efforts to address climate change and habitat loss,” said ASC chief executive Chris Ninnes.
“We’re proud to work with Labeyrie and Omarsa to restore mangroves through community action, supporting a healthier future for people, fish, farm and planet.”
Omarsa general manager Sandro Coglitore emphasised the project’s community-led nature: “The community has offered protected land for restoration,” he said.
“The trees come from a nursery Omarsa helped them develop—this aligns with our sustainability strategy and the UN’s sustainability goals.”
Estelle Brennan, director of sustainability at Labeyrie Fine Foods, added, “Mangroves are vital blue carbon ecosystems. We are thrilled to support this project that protects biodiversity, combats climate change, and strengthens coastal resilience.”
The initiative reflects ASC’s ongoing efforts to incorporate best practices for mangrove restoration into its certification standards, reversing past damage caused by shrimp farming and restoring balance to vulnerable coastal ecosystems.
