According 2.002 IFOAM basic standard any aquaculture system is excluded. Nevertheless extensive systems are more easy to convert than others, been Ecuador´s 99% aquaculture systems EXTENSIVE, the potential for a fast organic aquaculture conversion is here to be promoted.
Extensive culture practice also should have less risk for virus outbreaks.

Ecuador conventional shrimp export figures:

1.998: 252´000.000 pounds/year (best year)
1.999: 209´000.000 pounds/year (El niño )
2.000: 82´955.000 pounds/year (white spot)
2.001: 99´801.000 pounds/year (start recovery)
2.002: 103´033.000 pounds/year
2.003: 126´750.000 pounds/year

At the end of 2.003 Ecuador is at 50% of the 1.998 shrimp production peak.
Some packing plants are RE-OPENING to process the increasing production, after EL NIÑO and white spot problems (2.000)
There is a POTENTIAL of 120´000.000 pounds of shrimp/year that are coming until full recovery, and will need to be processed, in new or re-open process plants.

Ecuador conventional TILAPIA export figures:

1.999: 3´739.000 pounds/year
2.000: 6´496.000 pounds/year
2.001: 9´952.000 pounds/year
2.002: 13´150.000 pounds/year
2.003: 21´443.000 pounds/year

The TILAPIA FISH production also has the potential to be converted to organic practices.

Regardless Ecuador great potential in organic Shrimp and Tilapia fish, isolated efforts and internal frictions between producers and packers in Ecuador and different quality originated in different packing plants might create problems in this new product image; other countries in ASIA with a more discipline culture might take advantage.

In December 2.003 article I mentioned 2 alternatives for the organic shrimp production in Ecuador to grow:

1.- Let the same group of conventional packers with their capital to buy the organic production as well as conventional production.
2.- Land the organic importers to Ecuador, to buy the organic shrimps, directly from the producers.

A good example to follow is the banana fresh fruit business in Ecuador, DOLE from U.S.A had selected a basic group of suppliers, that has to met the DOLE standards, They has a group of qualify people performing continuos farm inspections. Not everybody can be a DOLE supplier. DOLE reputation is to pay the better prices and relationship producers-DOLE is excellent, and product quality the best.

WHAT TO DO.-

To introduce a new product in the market foreign companies needs, reliable supply in terms of volume and quality.
Can this be done, in the current situation, with few people defending their few sales and with packers and producers having problems.

Since there are 120´000.000 pounds/year to come until full recovery of Ecuador shrimp production there is room to a new or an abandoned re-conditioned packing plant to open for only processing 100 % organic aquaculture products out of already certified or in conversion process farms.

This new or re-conditioned plant, will has their owned in plant high tech quality control equipment LC-MS/MS, for heavy metals and antibiotic residues.
At this point those test are been conducted by an external lab by all packers.

Quality pre-harvest inspection and a selected group of producers will be implemented.
Management should be INTERNATIONAL, as well as quality control.

I´m not afraid to say that a DOLE equivalent for aquaculture is needed for the organic aquaculture in Ecuador.

What are the goals:

• A considerable market share increase of organic aquaculture products instead of conventional aquaculture.
• Better quality assurance for consumers.
• Sustainable farms operations for long term product supply.
• Social aspects, from better producers conditions.
• Environment care.
• Closer distribution channel between producer and final organic consumer.

.................................
by: Enrique F. Bolona
ebolona@southtropical.com
March 2004