Published on March 30, 2021
Breaking new ground for Ecuadorian shrimp
In partnership with Skretting and Ecuacultivos, Hendrix Genetics has started the construction of a shrimp nucleus genetic center. This facility will provide the Ecuadorian producers with a dedicated genetic line of shrimp with increased resistance to local diseases. The breeding program will start up with specially selected, disease-free shrimp from the farms of Ecuacultivos.
In February 2019, the three partners announced the purchase of the Macrobio hatchery to start post larvae production of Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp. From the first day of supplying post larvae to the market, the added value of using high quality material proved itself and the production capacity has grown tremendously in the months thereafter.
The construction of the genetic center is a natural next step in the development of a strong and sustainable Ecuadorian shrimp sector. Construction will take place in two phases and will include a genetic building, holding the Nauplii until PL’12 (12 days post-larvaea and completed its physiological development) as well as a series of different ponds to maintain the shrimp until broodstock size. The center brings the total investment of the three partners close to $25 million.
Skretting Ecuador General Manager Carlos Miranda Illingworth expressed the shared vision of the partners, “We are working together to make the shrimp sector in Ecuador more competitive, but above all, more sustainable towards the future. High quality nutrition, farm management and shrimp genetics are basic conditions to accomplish that.”
Claudio Cerda, General Manager Ecuador, Carlos Miranda Illingworth, General Manager Skretting Ecuador, Ivan Ontaneda Berru, Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries, Datzania Villao Burgos, Governor of the province of Santa Elena
Now that we have a consistent flow of post larvae going to market, it is time to show the power of genetic progress to the shrimp sector. We expect to have the first sentinels of our breeding population in the water in the third quarter of 2021.
Sentinels are extremely important for a balanced and effective breeding program. These shrimps provide valuable data in testing our genetics under commercial conditions. The first families to be used in the sentinels have just been selected based on field performance from local farms.
Construction of the Ecuadorian genetic center is an exciting step in providing the market with high quality genetics that will create a more sustainable shrimp industry for all members of the chain.
