58,000 white shrimp larvae stocked in sea cage

Shrimp larvae cultivation. (Photo: http://www.agricultura.gob.ec)

ECUADOR
Tuesday, September 09, 2014, 23:20 (GMT + 9)
The National Fisheries Institute (INP) stocked 58,000 white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) larvae in a sea cage located in area of Puerto Engabao, which is considered a milestone for the country.
The initiative developed by the INP, an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries (MAGAP) provides short trials in which various parameters will be assessed:

• Food;
• Population density;
• Adaptability to the environment and culture system;
• Possible risks of diseases that animals can get in these conditions.

The study is part of a pilot project for farming this species in sea cages.
Proponents of the initiative hope to obtain guidelines for a culture methodology that allows results for the fisheries-aquaculture sector.
As it was explained by Fausto Pazos, leader of INP Project Development and Execution Subprocess, the current multi-purpose infrastructure provides operational advantages allowing the execution of projects with other species having aquaculture interest.
This pioneering project aims to diversify the productive matrix through the contribution of aquaculture production alternatives that aim to promote the artisanal fishing sector, with available technology.
This initiative is funded by the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENESCYT).