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Agriculture
Example of shrimps
Main species of the aquaculture production:
- Shrimp: Ecuador is one of the leading producers
in Latin America and in the world. 273 M pounds
of shrimp were exported in 2007, generating $528
million USD. Ecuador has all the technology for
production of postlarva: fattening, nutrition, pro-
cessing and packaging.
- Tilapia species from Africa have been growing
since 1992. This activity has positioned the coun-
try as one of the leading suppliers of fresh and
frozen fillets to the U.S. market.
- Rainbow trout: because of its biology, it is culti-
vated in the highlands and mountainous areas of
the Ecuadorian Amazon. It is one of the world’s
more farmed fish. Its distribution is mainly in the
domestic market and a percentage goes to the
American market.
- Cachama black and red: it is an Amazonian spe-
cies with high development potential due to their
growth rates and trade sizes. Ecuador has all the
necessary captive breeding and farming technol-
ogy that brings successful results.
- Chame is a species of wide acceptance in mar-
kets like the U.S., Asia and Central America. It is
easy fattening, it is very resistant to adverse con-
ditions and requires very little investment.
Potential species of freshwater: paiche boca-
chico, bagre, sábalo, tucanaré, vieja azul.
Potential saltwater species: huayaipe, sea bass,
tuna, seaweed, oysters.
FORESTS
Greening of soil is possible
There is a green future driven by the national
government, local communities, private compa-
nies and international agencies. In this respect, a
study of FAO says that Ecuador could count with
9.3 million hectares in 2020, compared with 8.8
hectares that were recorded in 2000. 5.5 million
hectares out of the surface projected would re-
main protected by the Central Government and
local communities. 560.00 hectares will be as-
signed for wood production, although other 3 mil-
lion hectares of forests could be considered with
industrial productive potential.
EXPORT OFFER OF ECUADOR
We would like to thank CORPEI for the informa-
tion given to complete this chapter.
Total exportations:
$395 million USD and 150 thousand tons in 2009
Main markets: United States, European Union
and Japan
Ecuadorian cocoa
Ecuadorian cocoa is known for its variety, high
quality and special flavors. Ecuador is a producer
of a famous and unique “Arriba” Cocoa, which is
PRESENT STATE OF FISHERIES
AND AQUACULTURE
Export activities such as shrimp and tuna produc-
tion were affected by the crisis of 2008, which,
in turn, affected their main customers in the USA
and Europe.
In the case of the shrimp sector, 2009 was not
a very profitable year. Although the amount ex-
ported last year was higher, the lost was due to
the price decrease. Ecuador went from exporting
294 M pounds in 2008 to 299 M pounds in 2009.
In 2008, international sales were of $673 million
USD, while in 2009 they accounted for $607 mil-
lion USD.
In 2008, the 25 largest shrimp and tuna compa-
nies billed $1,861 million USD, while in 2009 they
suffered a dramatic decline, where just 11 compa-
nies were able to resist and represented a total
turnover of $ 698 million USD.