Speaker Category: Speaker

Abstract

The driver of global shrimp production has moved from Asia to Ecuador, which is increasingly dominating the global shrimp supply chain with large export volumes. Ecuador is also seen as transitioning from selling a product to meeting a need. With different production models between the main production countries, how can feed play a role in securing the longer-term sustainability of Asian shrimp production?

Retail is increasingly influencing shrimp farming practices, focusing on provenance and health benefits such as EPA and DHA in shrimp tails as well as fish-free diets. Current preferences include non-ablation production methods and electrical stunning over chilling.

The development of Ecuador and how it achieved its position in the global shrimp market shows opportunities for Asia and challenges for the higher-density farming model in Asia.

Abstract

Ecuador has emerged as a global leader in efficient, high-quality shrimp production. This presentation explores the strategic combination of natural, industrial, and technological advantages that drive Ecuador’s competitiveness. It will also include a SWOT analysis and a brief discussion on shrimp production in selected countries in Latin America (Mexico, Perú, Honduras, Nicaragua and Brazil).

The presentation is structured around three key pillars:

1. Natural Advantages: 65% of Ecuador’s shrimp farms are located mainly in Guayas within 100km of the country’s main ports, enabling efficient cold-chain logistics. A stable tropical climate supports year-round production and lowers disease pressure.
2. Integrated Production Model: More than 65% of Ecuador’s shrimp production comes from vertically integrated producers managing at least two stages of the value chain. More than 30% comes from producers with more than two stages—from hatchery and grow-out to processing and export. These companies have invested significantly in technology, infrastructure, and digital management systems to increase efficiency and resilience. It is not just about size but about economies of scale operations.
3. Value Chain Innovation: Local and international companies develop products mainly for Ecuador’s shrimp industry. Having a robust ecosystem of innovation supports Ecuador’s shrimp sector. Advances in local feed formulation, genetic selection, and aquaculture technology—developed through close collaboration with suppliers, academia, and the private sector—have enabled Ecuador to continually raise productivity and product quality.

Opportunities are:

• Strong sustainability positioning in global markets (U.S., EU, Asia)
• Expansion into value-added processing and premium products
• Rising demand in Asia for antibiotic-free, traceable shrimp
• Continued gains in efficiency through genetics and automation

Threats are:

• Political instability and regulatory uncertainty
• Limited electricity supply affecting farm and processing operations
• Insecurity and organized crime near production areas
• Biosecurity threats (e.g. WSSV, EHP)
• Climate risks such as coastal flooding and salinity change

Finally, Ecuador’s unique blend makes it one of the most competitive shrimp producers globally. Despite emerging operational and political risks, it has the ability to deliver consistent, sustainable, and high-quality shrimp, positioning Ecuador as a strategic sourcing and investment destination for the global aquaculture market.

Abstract

The global shrimp aquaculture industry is embracing innovative practices to enhance productivity, biosecurity, and sustainability. Among these, shrimp nurseries have emerged as a transformative tool, acting as an intermediary stage between hatchery-reared post-larvae (PL) and grow-out ponds. These facilities, designed to rear shrimp PLs for 25-30 days, offer significant advantages such as improved survival rates, disease management, acclimatization to farm conditions, and operational flexibility.

Shrimp nurseries can be indoor or outdoor, utilizing various designs and materials, and operate under controlled conditions to produce robust post larvae. Their strategic value includes better health screening, acclimatization to salinity, enhanced feed efficiency, and flexible stocking and harvesting schedules. The multiphase farming approach further optimizes production cycles, resource allocation, and economic efficiency.

The benefits are as follows:

• Proper seed screening and health management.
• Salinity acclimatisation which provides better survival.
• Reduction in days of culture (DOC) increases or doubles crop yields with better economies of scale. Shrimp can reach marketable size before white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) outbreaks.
• Better average daily growth (ADG) after post-compensatory growth. The caveat is genetics, stocking density, farming management and days of culture.
• Helps in combating summer stress, white gut, white faecal disease and running mortality efficiently.
• Stocking post larvae in nursery tanks to effectively manage the crop and also maintain positive cash flow management.
• Switching between black tiger and vannamei shrimp is flexible to meet production goals with changing demand.

Mayank Aquaculture Pvt. Ltd. (MAPL) in Gujarat, India, has pioneered an isolated multiphase shrimp nursery model, incorporating advanced water treatment systems and innovative rearing approaches. This model ensures biosecurity, reduces culture days, improves growth rates, and enhances survival rates. The nursery concept is particularly beneficial for regions with low success rates, such as Asia, where biosecurity and disease mitigation are critical.

While nurseries are not a universal solution, they serve as a valuable tool for farmers, enabling better crop planning, cost efficiency, and consistent success rates. For small-scale farmers, collaborative setups can make high-quality nurseries accessible. Ultimately, shrimp nurseries represent a promising approach to sustainable and profitable shrimp farming.

Abstract

Farmed shrimp is a commodity with a global trading value of approximately USD68 billion a year. Asia and Latin America are the two regions that produce the majority of the shrimp traded. In Asia, shrimp are commonly farmed using a super-intensive model, while in Latin America, the extensive model is more common. Over the past two decades, shrimp productivity has improved rapidly, increasing from 0.5-3 tonnes/ha to the current 30-60 tonnes/ha.

However, the expansion of shrimp production also comes with several burdens such as the use of water, land, energy and forage fish. Despite current challenges such as low farm gate prices, diseases, profitability, and tariffs, sustainability remains a key challenge for the next 10 to 20 years.

This presentation provides a comparative analysis of the Asia model and the Latam model, including our current shrimp feed formula for both regions and a futuristic formula. We aim to address sustainability challenges in several areas such as feed efficiency, novel ingredients, plant-based diets, functional feed, processing technology, and genetics improvement. By doing so, we identify the key drivers for making shrimp farming more efficient and sustainable. In Asia, shrimp farming is mostly done at the family business level. The younger generation is now joining the industry, bringing innovation from other disciplines. Shrimp farming is not just a business; it is also a shrimp farmer’s legacy.

Abstract

Vietnam’s shrimp industry is undergoing a period of profound stress, driven by persistently low farm-gate prices, escalating input costs, and increasing scrutiny over environmental sustainability. These structural challenges are further intensified by global competition, particularly from cost-efficient producers such as Ecuador and India, resulting in a prolonged price crisis and declining profit margins for Vietnamese farmers.

In response, EcoSeafood Group (E.S.G) – a newly established enterprise building upon the technological foundation and field experience of ShrimpVet – has introduced a novel, systems-based shrimp farming model. This model integrates modular farm design, advanced production technologies, and mangrove agroecological integration to enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impact. With a current pilot site of 30 hectares, the system is engineered to optimize resource efficiency, reduce labor dependency, and lower carbon footprint through automation and scale.

E.S.G aims to expand this model to 50 modules by 2030, accounting for just 1% of Vietnam’s total shrimp farming area, yet potentially matching national production levels through intensified yield. Beyond economic efficiency, the model addresses a broader socio-structural issue: attracting a new generation of farmers by offering a high-tech, profitable, and sustainable alternative to conventional shrimp aquaculture.

This presentation outlines the conceptual framework, preliminary outcomes, and long-term vision of this transformative approach to sustainable shrimp production in Vietnam.