Global Shrimp Council launches

These members include producers from India (7), Ecuador (6), Indonesia (2), Guatemala (1), Mexico (1), Honduras (1), Saudi Arabia (1), Sri Lanka (1) and Venezuela (1).

The two main objectives of the GSC are:

1. Educate and Inspire American consumers: The GSC aims to increase consumption by reminding consumers, through targeted marketing communications and in store promotions, about the benefits of adding shrimp to their daily diet. The campaign will showcase the health benefits and incredible versatility of shrimp.

2. Sustainability Spotlight: Emphasising the importance of responsible seafood choices, the campaign will educate consumers about sustainable wild and farmed shrimp and its impact on the environment. By choosing responsibly sourced shrimp, consumers promote sustainability.

GSC founding member and CEO of Manta Bay David Castro said the creation of the council marks “a significant milestone” in the journey of a sustainable and responsible shrimp industry.

“By bringing together key players and leveraging the support of the National Fisheries Institute, we are confident in our ability to harmonise the interests of participants in this significant industry through a systemic vision. One of these interests is to introduce the global consumer to the benefits of consuming the finest sustainably produced protein sources, such as shrimp,” he said.

The launch comes after a previous meeting – held at the Global Shrimp Forum in Utrecht, Netherlands – where producers from several countries including Ecuador, Mexico, India, Vietnam and Indonesia agreed on the need to establish a global body to promote shrimp consumption across international markets, explained another GSC Founding Member Gabriel Luna.

“I want to thank the more than 20 participants at the meeting who pledged immediate support to kick off this initiative supporting the idea we presented along with David Castro, to create the Global Shrimp Council (GSC) under the umbrella of the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) in the US,” Luna said.

NFI President and CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard said: “We are proud to support the Global Shrimp Council in its mission to increase consumption of sustainable shrimp through education and inspiration. Collaborative efforts like these are essential to address the challenges facing our oceans and ensure that shrimp and seafood remain a tasty, healthy and sustainable choice for consumers.”