Cheap industrial shrimp imports to EU wiping mangroves off the map

The increasing demand for cheap imported farmed shrimp in Europe, particularly from Ecuador, is leading to severe impacts on habitats, climate, public health, and animal welfare. European consumers have shifted towards farmed shrimp over wild seafood, resulting in the loss of up to 90% of wild mangroves in critical coastal estuaries in Ecuador. The growth of the shrimp industry in Ecuador, now the world's largest producer and exporter of whiteleg shrimp, is controlled by just two exporting corporations, leading to environmental degradation across coastal regions.

The report highlights the hidden costs of cheap imported shrimp, including crowded, intensive farming systems that promote disease spread and antimicrobial resistance. Labour issues within the sector, with an estimated 63% of aquaculture workers in Ecuador employed without formal contracts, further underline the negative impacts of the industry. The call is made for companies to take responsibility for the environmental and animal welfare consequences of their supply chains, and for consumers to be provided with transparent information to make informed choices about the shrimp they consume.