The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) has teamed up with IDH to launch a pioneering initiative in Ecuador to ensure that workers on SSP-certified shrimp farms are paid a living wage.
Using IDH’s Salary Matrix and the internationally recognised Anker methodology, the project enables participating farms to assess how actual wages compare to the regional living wage.
“Today, SSP members are making history,” said Pamela Nath, SSP director. “This measurement will allow us to support our commitment with concrete and verifiable evidence, raise social standards across the sector and inspire others to follow.”
The initiative builds on a successful 2023 pilot project with IDH and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, which found that several farms in Ecuador’s southern coastal region already met or surpassed the living wage standard.
“Accurately measuring living wages using real-world data is essential for driving fairer labour conditions,” added Marjol van der Linden, aquaculture programme manager at IDH. “This project sets a strong example for other seafood sectors.”
José Antonio Camposano, executive president of Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture, added: “Our industry complies with local and global labour standards. This initiative allows us to demonstrate that Ecuador is prepared to lead the social standard in aquaculture.”
By formally integrating wage transparency into their sustainability efforts, SSP and its members says they are reaffirming their commitment to environmental, social and ethical leadership in the global shrimp industry.
