The much-anticipated AQUAEXPO Santa Elena 2024 kicked off at the prestigious auditorium of the Salinas Golf & Tennis Club in Ecuador. This significant event, specialized in larviculture, brings together key stakeholders from the shrimp farming industry to discuss innovations and strategies for sustainable growth.

Official Inauguration: A Platform for Collaboration

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of esteemed personalities including Fabricio Tamayo Triviño, governor of Santa Elena; Tomás Villao, vice mayor of Santa Elena; Axel Vedani, Undersecretary of Aquaculture; Yahira Piedrahita, executive director of the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA); and Alex Elgoul, director of the CNA in the Santa Elena chapter, alongside other provincial and national authorities.

During her opening remarks, Yahira Piedrahita emphasized the importance of AQUAEXPO as a platform for idea exchange and the development of innovative solutions crucial for preserving marine ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of shrimp production. “Let’s take advantage of the event that brings us together today as an invaluable opportunity to seek the sustainable growth of our industry,” she urged.

Santa Elena’s Integral Role

Undersecretary of Aquaculture, Axel Vedani, underscored Santa Elena’s pivotal role in the shrimp farming industry. He highlighted the province as a key hub for maturation and postlarva laboratories, emphasizing its contribution to maintaining approximately 8,000 hectares of shrimp production, constituting a significant portion of the national cultivation area.

This year, AQUAEXPO Santa Elena boasts the participation of nearly 50 companies showcasing the latest innovations in the shrimp industry. The trade fair serves as a platform for companies to exhibit their products and services, highlighting advancements in technology, production methods, and sustainability practices.

Technical Congress: Insights from Experts

Complementing the trade fair, the event features a technical congress with 13 international and Ecuadorian experts. These experts will deliver talks on various topics including animal health, nutrition, production management, and market analysis, providing valuable insights into the industry’s challenges and opportunities.