Implementing partner: World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Other partner(s): Granjas Marinas Group (GGM), Sociedad Nacional Galapagos (SONGA)
Country: Honduras, Gulf of Fonseca
Species: Litopeneaus vannamei
Targeted volume: 31,026 MT (large-scale farms)
Target: ASC
Project duration: 18 months (January 2016 – June 2017)
Project summary
Following the successful certification of 90% of the shrimp sector in Belize, WWF Guatemala/Mesoamerica and the IDH FIT Fund are partnering again to replicate this work in the region. With financial support from the FIT Fund and technical support from WWF Guatemala/Mesoamerica and WWF Ecuador, two shrimp producer groups, Granjas Marinas Group (GGM) in Honduras and Sociedad Nacional Galapagos (SONGA) in Ecuador will seek ASC certification of ten Pacific white shrimp (Litopeneaus vannamei) shrimp farms.
GGM directly employs an estimated 3,392 people, often coming from poor rural areas. GGM consists of five farms, one shrimp hatchery and two shrimp processing plants. In 2014, GGM produced 14,592 MT of shrimp, with exports valued at more than €88.7 million.
SONGA employs 1800 people across their five shrimp farms, research facility, two hatcheries, and a processing plant that has the capacity to process 110 tons per day. In 2014, SONGA, produced 14,000 tons of shrimp, and in doing so attained its position as one of the main exporters in Ecuador, as well as a reliable and consistent supplier to the European, North American and Asian markets. Both groups have other international certifications such as HACCP, BRC, BPM and Global gap.
Competition in international markets for sources of sustainably certified fish and shellfish has grown steadily over the past few years as retailers search for a consistent product. The ASC Certification will give these shrimp producers in Honduras and Ecuador a competitive advantage and privileged access to this high-value market demanding ASC shrimp products.
Partnering with the main shrimp producer and exporter group in Honduras, and one of the main shrimp producers and exporters in Ecuador, WWF and IDH FIT Fund will expand ASC certification in the Latin American Region in order to promote and ensure more environmentally-responsible production.
Statements
“The success of our work in Belize has motivated other shrimp producers in Latin America to work hand in hand with WWF and IDH to produce responsible produce shrimp protecting the natural resources and minimizing the social and environmental impacts”
WWF Guatemala/Mesoamerica
¨Through this work, we hope to encourage more Ecuadorian producers of shrimp to join this initiative and implement best aquaculture practices in their processes to help them reduce impacts and to ensure a responsible production¨.
WWF Ecuador
“SONGA is aware that sustainable development is not about producing less but about producing responsibly, enhancing the quality of life while caring for the natural resources. Thus, working towards ensuring a suitable quality of life for future generations”
SONGA Group
“Grupo Granjas Marinas protects the mangrove forest and ensures water quality on all shrimp farms. To us the mangrove is one of the pillars of environmental sustainability for shrimp farming and thanks to our forestation programs and the constant presence of water in the occupied sites, mangrove forests have developed along gunwales of lagoons and channels creating conditions that allow the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity. In addition, working with programs of water quality monitoring we ensure compliance with the required ASC standards, our technicians do water quality analysis in production ponds, intake canals and effluent canals to ensure that the nutrients load is below the national regulation and/or in compliance with ASC standards”
GGM
Contact details:
Mauricio Mejia,
Agriculture/Aquaculture Program Officer WWF-MAR Program
Email: MMejia@wwfca.org