Following a successful inaugural of the Shrimp Summit in July 2022, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) are hosting another ASC Shrimp Summit on June 12-14, 2023.
In 2022, ASC buyers and seafood suppliers from the United States and Canada such as Sysco, Alberton’s, Disney, Ahold Delhaize USA, Metro, and Loblaws joined the event. This year, shrimp buyers from all three major and promising export markets of Ecuador – North America, Europe, and Japan – have confirmed their participation.
‘Connecting the marketplace to the producers is a vital part of our work at ASC in promoting ASC certified shrimp and demonstrating how responsible aquaculture production works. We are very excited to bring major retailers from Japan to Ecuador, which is an important supplier to this market for high-quality shrimp,’ said Koji Yamamoto, ASC’s general manager in Japan.
‘In the previous ASC Shrimp Summit, our North American guests explored the world of Ecuadorian shrimp. They experienced the commitments of SSP producers that embrace the best practices with the highest quality and social and environmental responsibility, complying with ASC label requirements, and with a special focus on zero use of antibiotics, neutral impact on water and full traceability,’ commented Pamela Nath, director of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership.
‘Their findings confirmed why Ecuador is the leading producer and exporter of shrimp in the world. This year, we are excited to expand this encounter to Europe and Asia, enabling more representatives from our three main markets to witness firsthand the exceptional efforts of our industry.’
Ecuador is the world’s leading shrimp producer and exporter of Pacific white shrimp (P. Vannamei), supplying all major shrimp markets such as Europe, China and the US. In 2022, Ecuador exported more than a million tonnes of shrimp, reaching 66 countries, and adding $6.7 billion in exports. Ecuador also accounts for approximately 40% of available ASC certified shrimp in the world.
A packed agenda awaits participants of the ASC Shrimp Summit in Guayaquil. During the visit, participants will tour ASC certified farms and processing plants to see firsthand what responsible aquaculture production looks like. The tour also includes a visit to a feed mill, an important aspect of responsible seafood farming, which is now covered by the ASC Feed Standard.
