SUSTAINED BRINGS PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN SHRIMP HATCHERIES

SustainED brings professionals together to strengthen shrimp hatcheries in Ecuador amid environmental changes. Eleven experts shared practical tools to enhance health, efficiency, and sustainability in shrimp hatcheries.

Over 100 representatives of the shrimp industry participated in a new edition of SustainED, the continuing education programme led by the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA). This edition focused on how to prepare for, adapt to, and appropriately respond to environmental and health changes that influence shrimp hatcheries in the country.

The event, hosted at the Scientific Dissemination Hall of the Peninsula State University of Santa Elena (UPSE), featured 11 technical sessions delivered by national and international experts from institutions including Biogemar, INVE Aquaculture, UPSE, BioMar, VITAPRO, Skretting, Kampi, and Banco Guayaquil, among others.

Participants explored current solutions and practices to reinforce hatchery operations in areas such as water quality, biosecurity, disease control, larval nutrition, predictive genetics, postlarvae evaluation technologies, national sanitary guidelines, continuous improvement programmes, and financing opportunities for the sector.

“Shrimp hatcheries are the starting point of the production chain and the foundation that determines the quality and performance of the farming process. In the face of climate variability, which is visibly affecting aquaculture, it is essential to strengthen hatcheries’ capacity to adapt, innovate, and ensure high-quality postlarvae. This edition of SustainED therefore focused on understanding these challenges and the solutions that can support healthy development from the very beginning,” said SSP Director Pamela Nath.

“The sustainable development of the shrimp industry depends on our collective ability to improve processes, incorporate new knowledge, and anticipate change. That begins in the hatcheries. When we strengthen this stage, we elevate the production quality and reinforce the country’s competitiveness. Initiatives like SustainED help ensure that this progress extends throughout the entire value chain,” said CNA Executive President, José Antonio Camposano.

SustainED stood out for providing a platform for learning and connection among producers, researchers, technicians, and supplier companies. This edition was sponsored by LarvaCare (a Naltech brand), Prilabsa, and VITAPRO, all of which support the development of a more competitive and responsible Ecuadorian aquaculture sector through education.

About SSP

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) is a group of leading companies committed to transforming the future of shrimp aquaculture. As pioneers in Ecuador, SSP members are dedicated to achieving and promoting the highest-quality products, produced under the highest social and environmental standards, through greater collaboration and transparency.