To promote shrimp larvae production management and to boost recognition for those hatcheries that are improving the quality of their product, together with their environmental and social impacts, the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) in Ecuador have launched the new Scale Up programme.
Scale Up is a measure aimed at raising shrimp aquaculture standards and ensuring sustainability principles are adhered to throughout the entire production chain, SSP Director Pamela Nath explained.
As part of the initiative, a Technical Guide for the Sustainability of Shrimp Hatcheries was developed. This is the first manual focused on establishing specific regulations for the sustainability of shrimp larvae production in Ecuador.
Among other considerations, the guiding principles of the manual focus on compliance with current regulations, ensuring adequate infrastructure, responsible resource utilisation, storage, sanitation, biosecurity, environmental impacts and social responsibility.
“In addition to enhancing industry standards, this programme reinforces Ecuador’s commitment to sustainability and consolidates our reputation as responsible leaders in global shrimp production. This initiative also ensures strong relationships with our consumers, who increasingly value sustainability when making purchasing decisions,” CAN Executive President José Antonio Camposano said.
Inve Aquaculture, an associate member of SSP, played an active role in the project’s development.
“By implementing these practices at the hatchery level, we aim for a more transparent aquaculture industry, highlighting the importance of biosecurity measures, advanced water treatment processes, and reducing the use of chemicals during live food production to minimise waste discharge into the environment,” commented Xavier Valdez, Area Manager at INVE Aquaculture in Ecuador.
As part of the efforts to prepare and support hatcheries in implementing regulations and ensuring their optimal performance, activities such as training sessions and audits have been designed. These aim to assess compliance with regulations and provide feedback on areas for improvement.
According to SSP Technical Project Coordinator Leonardo Maridueña, the main goal of the Scale Up programme is for shrimp hatcheries to adopt the sustainability standards outlined in the Technical Guide and to receive recognition once they successfully meet all the requirements for sustainable management of their production.
“Adhering to the guide’s criteria enables larvae producers to attain production that is clean, efficient, responsible, and sustainable,” he said.
