Pravash Pradhan
In the wake of the tight vigil over the export of shrimps to China and the low prices, the shrimp farmers have slowed stocking in Ecuador, thereby leading to low production in the coming months.
“We will see a decline in export volumes in the upcoming months since producers are stocking a lot less due to market restrictions and contraction of shrimp demand. Very low prices are affecting planned production, so the reduction will be a reality from September on. However, right now, data shows an increase in comparison to the same period (Jan – May) 2019,” said Jose Antonio Camposano, Executive President, National Chamber of Aquaculture, Ecuador, in an email reply to AQUA POST.
He further added, “Right now, production and export growth between Jan to May 2020 is up 16% in comparison to the same period in 2019, but if we compare that of 2018, the increase is 23% meaning that the growing rate has declined”.
Ecuador has produced 311000 MT from January to May this year.The National Chamber of Aquaculture has denied reports of the complete ban of the shrimp export to China.
“At the moment, three Ecuadorian establishments are suspended, so dialogues are maintained with Chinese authorities with the purpose of solving the problem. However, it is necessary to clarify that Ecuador is not penalized and that shrimp is still being exported to China,” said Jose.
A Covid – 19 Technical Supervisory Committee (TSC) was created, led by the Ministry of Production, Trade, Investment and Fisheries; in coordination with the Ministry of Health; the Under secretariat of Quality and Food Safety and the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador.
The team is responsible for the design, implementation and monitoring of hygiene and food safety procedures for the shrimp industry. One of the main tasks of TSC is to strengthen the procedures that have been put in place to prevent and control the risks related to the spread of Covid-19 among workers in the aquaculture and fishing industry, to guarantee the quality and safety of the Ecuadorian product to our export destinations and the health of the staff.
Ecuador applies, before COVID-19, sanitary regulations that guarantee the quality and safety of the product as required by international markets, based on the CODEX ALIMENTARIUS, INEN standards, the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (EU), the Food and Dugs Administration (FDA) regulations, among others, and is frequently audited with excellent results.
However, considering the extraordinary situation of the global pandemic, the country has implemented additional biosecurity measures on workers and product care, in this sense the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments, and Fisheries has issued a Ministerial Agreement to Provide for the strengthening actions aimed at the prevention and control of risks related to the spread of Covid-19 among workers in the Aquaculture and Fisheries industries.
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