The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) is a group of leading companies who are committed to transforming the future of shrimp aquaculture.

Premium farmed shrimp hits the shelves

UNITED STATES
Saturday, March 16, 2019, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) has today signed off its first batch of SSP-approved premium quality farmed shrimp. Working closely with ICONTEC, SSP has finalized its methodology for product verification, and is now offering premium farmed shrimp to the market.

SSP’s high quality shrimp is Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified, farmed without the use of antibiotics, has neutral impact on the environment, and fully traceable.

“Ensuring the highest quality product has always been our objective, and now through SSP we are able to provide a shrimp which meets the highest sustainability standards and offers a clean and natural product for consumers,” said Pamela Nath, SSP Director.  “Since SSP’s launch last year, we have taken the time needed to get our processes clearly defined and measurable, so that consumers can be completely confident that SSP products live up to the highest expectations. It is our mission to improve consumer choice for healthy and sustainable seafood, and today marks a major milestone for the industry with the release of a high-quality product which is not only ASC-certified, but also produced without the use of antibiotics.”

Building upon the ASC-certification process, SSP has been working with the expert technical standards organization - ICONTEC - to develop the verification processes behind the additional SSP commitments. Now finalized, the first batch of shrimp to complete this process has been approved, resulting in 1,000 tons of SSP shrimp destined for stores and restaurants in the US and abroad this month, with more to follow.

There are 11 farms operating under SSP criterions, producing SSP approved shrimp:

• Agromarina, Lebama and Salmos farms (Songa – Sociedad Nacional de Galápagos)
• Chanduy and Pañamao farms (Santa Priscila)
• Naturisa, Maricultura, Kamaclusa and Rio Nilo farms (Naturisa)
• Cachugran farm (Omarsa)
• Produmar farm (Produmar)

Currently, the qualifying SSP shrimp will be processed and distributed by Omarsa, Santa Priscila and Songa, processing plants that are part of these members integrated groups.

YouTube video of the aerial view of one of the farms of Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila SA

“This is just our first batch of approved product, but we expect to see increasing volumes of SSP shrimp in the coming months,” added Nath. “We are already in dialogue with multiple partners in the market-place who are looking for premium products which meet the growing consumer demand, for clean, safe, and sustainable seafood.”

“SSP qualified shrimp is tangible proof that aquaculture is possible without the use of antibiotics at all.  Ecuador is already known and respected for producing high-quality shrimp under the highest sanitary standards, and in providing reliable information that can be traced back to hatchery level. Leading an initiative like SPP, which is a reality today, is a step forward moving away from the commoditized low value generic shrimp market,” said José Antonio Camposano, Executive President of the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador.

“The SSP has challenged the status quo with ambitions to demonstrate traceability that can be trusted and product testing to ensure no antibiotics. This is a much more substantive approach to validation than what we typically see. The burden is now high and on the shrimp sector in Ecuador to show progress towards these targets,”said Aaron McNevin, Head of Aquaculture, World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

SSP qualified product will be available at Seafood Expo North America 2019, you can visit SSP members at booth #633 and also the dedicated SSP booth #817, to learn more about the most sustainable shrimp.

editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

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