GOAL 2018: Tour Ecuador’s Thriving Shrimp Sector

The first tour is of the Corporación Lanec shrimp farm in Taura, Guayas, followed by the Alimentsa feed mill in Durán, Guayas, which is just outside of Guayaquil. The tour is currently scheduled for the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 24. BioMar, which holds a 70 percent stake in Alimentsa, is a GOAL 2018 sponsor.

The second tour is of a shrimp hatchery, farm and processing plant in rural Manabí province. It begins with Aqua Norte shrimp hatchery in Canoa, Manabí.

Ecuador is the world's third largest producer of Pacific white shrimp and is the largest in Latin America, exporting more than 900 million pounds last year. Some of the country's first shrimp farms were located in Manabí province, the site of one of two tours currently scheduled during GOAL 2018.

After Aqua Norte shrimp hatchery, the tour turns north to Corporación Aray shrimp farm near Pedernales, located in the northwest corner of Manabí province. The tour includes a 15-minute boat ride through a mangrove forest to the farm.

The farm diverts water from the Cojimíes River Estuary into a canal system that feeds 18 ponds.

During harvest, workers position themselves at the outlet of a pond, capturing the shrimp in a purse seine. The shrimp are then immediately placed on ice in bins. This particular crop of shrimp was destined for the Empacadora del Pacifico (EDPACIF) S.A. shrimp processing plant in Pedernales, which is the last stop on the tour. The shrimp are packed head-on, shell-on and exported to markets like France and Japan.

Time for lunch! The Corporación Aray shrimp farm has a small kitchen where the workers eat. After touring the ponds, participants will be treated to lunch. Pictured here is a traditional Ecuadorian fish and shrimp stew, made with corvina and shrimp from the previous day's harvest.

Space is limited on both tours, so sign up before it's too late! Please note that early registration rates and special hotel rates at the Hilton Colon Guayaquil for GOAL 2018 expire on June 30.

The Global Aquaculture Alliance is offering industry tours immediately before and after its GOAL 2018 conference in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from Sept. 25-27. Two tours are confirmed, with others in the works. The first tour of a shrimp farm and feed mill is in Guayas province, in proximity to Guayaquil, on Monday, Sept. 24. The second tour of a shrimp hatchery, farm and processing plant is in Manabí province and includes an overnight in Manta. Tour stops include Corporación Lanec shrimp farm, Alimentsa feed mill, Aqua Norte shrimp hatchery, Corporación Aray shrimp farm and Empacadora del Pacifico (EDPACIF) S.A. shrimp processing plant.

To confirm your participation, register for the conference and select the appropriate tour or tours when prompted. Transportation is provided. Space is limited, and each tour is closed once its capacity is reached. Questions? Visit the GOAL 2018 webpage or contact GAA’s Steven Hedlund.