According to the latest figures from the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor), from January to April this year, Ecuador’s fishing sector exported products worth USD 2.871 billion. This performance is second only to the agricultural-agroindustrial sector, which generated USD 3.063 billion.

Shrimp: Ecuador’s Premier Export Product

Within the fishing sector, shrimp reigns supreme as Ecuador’s top export product. From January to April, shrimp exports alone accounted for USD 2.169 billion of the sector’s revenue. This figure underscores the significant role shrimp plays in Ecuador’s export economy, far outpacing other fishing products. In comparison, canned fish exports generated USD 499 million, and tuna and fish exports totaled USD 111 million.

Fleet Composition and Shrimp Industry Infrastructure

The Ecuadorian shrimp industry’s success is supported by a well-structured and diverse fishing fleet. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries (MPCEIP), Ecuador’s fishing fleet comprises 620 vessels in total. The fleet is categorized into various segments, with the large pelagic fish fleet being the largest at 229 vessels.

Breakdown of Industrial Vessels

• Tuna Fishing: 112 vessels
• Large Pelagic Fish: 229 vessels
• Small Pelagic Fish: 184 vessels
• Shrimp Ointment: 39 vessels
• Multipurpose (Hake and Shrimp): 56 vessels

These figures, highlighted by the Bitácora Ambiental website on X, are the first official statistics on the structure of Ecuadorian fishing fleets released in four years.