AGRIMINGOLD, a shrimp farming company based in Ecuador, has become the first farm in the country to participate in the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s Improver Program.

The Aquaculture Improver Program (AIP) was originally announced in 2018, and it's designed to help seafood farmers that aren’t ready to achieve ASC certification improve practices and mitigate environmental impacts. The program launched at the Global Shrimp Forum in September 2023, with a focus on small-scale shrimp farmers in Southeast Asias and Latin America.

The new AIP for AGRIMINGOLD will cover the company’s 135 hectare vannamei farm in El Oro Province, Ecuador. The company produces 753.15 metric tons (MT) of shrimp annually, according to ASC.

“We are proud to welcome AGRIMINGOLD S.A., and its brand MAREAROSA, as the first Latin America producer to join the Improver Program by ASC,” ASC AIP and Governance Manager Patricia Bianchi said. “Their commitment to positive change and enhancing environmental and social practices reflects the proactive spirit we aim to foster through this initiative.”

AGRIMINGOLD isn’t the first company to join the program, as there are 16 other active AIPs in the shrimp sector. However, the majority of those are in Asia – with one participating farm in Bangladesh, two in Indonesia, and 12 in Thailand – and AGRIMINGOLD is the first farm in the Americas to join.

“Our participation in the AIP represents a fundamental milestone in our firm purpose towards environmental sustainability and a solid social responsibility,” AGRIMINGOLD CEO Annabell Palacios said. “We want to make a significant contribution to the protection of the environment and the wellbeing of the sector, especially vulnerable communities.”

Palacios said the company is committed to working towards the AIP program’s goals, which are designed to improve farming practices and transform the aquaculture industry through small changes across non-certified seafood farms.

“We look forward to supporting AGRIMINGOLD S.A./MAREAROSA on their journey towards greater sustainability, social responsibility and, eventually, ASC certification,” Bianchi said.

Source - https://www.seafoodsource.com