PELAKITA.ID – To fully understand the current position of Ecuador’s Litopenaeus vannamei (vannamei) shrimp industry—and to anticipate its future direction—it is essential to explore its long and dynamic history.
From modest and relatively unsophisticated beginnings in the 1960s to its present status as a globally recognized supplier of premium shrimp, the Ecuadorian vannamei industry has undergone profound transformation.
The industry began almost by accident in the late 1960s, when it was discovered that mangrove lands in the province of El Oro provided ideal conditions for shrimp breeding.
This discovery quickly sparked widespread conversion of coastal mangrove areas into shrimp ponds, including regions near Guayaquil, Ecuador’s main commercial hub.
Investors were drawn by the promise of high returns, and capital flowed rapidly into shrimp farming. By the 1970s and 1980s, global shrimp consumption was rising steadily, and vannamei shrimp in particular gained a strong foothold in international markets as a preferred species.
As demand expanded, producers increasingly sought higher yields and efficiency through investments in technology, infrastructure, and technical expertise.
This shift was supported not only by private capital but also by the involvement of quasi-public and international institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Their engagement helped accelerate the adoption of intensive and semi-intensive shrimp farming systems.
Unlike extensive shrimp farming, these more advanced production methods required greater capital investment, skilled labor, laboratory-based health management, formulated feed, aeration systems, and medical inputs. As a result, well-financed operators with the capacity for full vertical integration emerged.
These integrated operations encompassed feed mills, larval laboratories, hatcheries, grow-out ponds, processing plants, and by-product manufacturing facilities such as fishmeal plants. By the early 1990s, the industry was thriving, supported by strong global demand and rising production efficiencies.
However, this favorable trajectory was abruptly challenged by the emergence of Taura Syndrome Virus (TSV), a devastating shrimp disease first identified in 1990.
The outbreak is widely associated with the irresponsible use of agricultural chemicals, particularly fungicides, in nearby banana plantations. The virus spread rapidly, and by 1991 it had become widespread across Ecuadorian shrimp farms. The economic damage caused by TSV in the Americas is estimated at approximately USD 2 billion, with Ecuador bearing a significant share of the losses.
The most severe impacts of Taura Syndrome in Ecuador lasted for about three years, during which the virus spread throughout the Americas and eventually into Asia.
Its destructiveness stemmed from its high transmissibility and resilience. The virus spread not only through infected shrimp, but also via seabirds, other aquatic species, and cannibalism among shrimp.
Even shrimp that survived infection became lifelong carriers, while the virus itself proved capable of surviving multiple freezing cycles—making containment exceptionally difficult.
By the late 1990s, however, Ecuador’s shrimp industry once again entered a growth phase. Producers adapted their farming practices to mitigate disease risks, while favorable global economic conditions supported demand.
Despite rapidly expanding shrimp production in Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and China, global consumption remained strong and prices relatively stable. Vannamei shrimp further solidified its position as a species of choice in international markets.
Ecuador continued to expand its market share in its two most important destinations—the United States and the European Union.
A strong reputation for quality, traceability, and consistency allowed some Ecuadorian producers to command premium prices, laying the foundation for the country’s modern shrimp industry and setting the stage for further innovation and resilience in the years ahead.
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTDeiS6EvDA