No new shrimp larvae laboratories can be erected in Ecuador for five years. (Photo: FIS)

Shrimp execs reject lab moratorium

ECUADOR
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

Shrimp firm executives harshly criticised Ministerial Accord 107, which regularises domestic shrimp laboratories, insisting it will undermine the entire industry and only benefit particular interests.

The official text establishes a five-year moratorium for the authorisation of new shrimp nauplius and larvae laboratories, that is, no new facilities can be authorised, expanded, constructed or operated.

“No new areas of maturation and larvae production can be built nor existing ones be expanded and increase production during the moratorium. The rule limits those in existence as of the expedition of the present document,” the ministerial agreement indicates.

Cesar Monge, president of the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) accused at Rafael Verduga Regalado, TEXCUMAR manager. He names him as the proponent of the measure, for owning a shrimp breeding and genetic improvement centre and for taking advantage of his position as Ministry of Agriculture advisor to introduce the transitory provision.

“He plots against the development of small, mid-sized and even large laboratories, inhibits the opportunity to compete, [and] goes against what the government wants, to produce a law of competencies that averts oligopolies and monopolies,” Monge indicated.

“Mister [Verduga Regalado], taking advantage of his position as Minister advisor, is an entrepreneurial shrimp fisher, has produced and generated the signing of a ministerial agreement that is going to monopolise because the management of a sector market is an oligopoly, as is shrimp fishing, which is fundamental to development,” he added.

Verduga Regalado defended himself: “I do not make agreements, I do not write them. If they ask for my opinion, I give it."

“Monge’s declarations surprise me, the Subsecretary was well-versed on the subject” of regularising laboratories, he added.

He admitted to being a consultant for the Ministry, but insisted that the matter was incumbent on the authorities: “There are studies of the Subsecretariat of Aquaculture on this subject and on the basis of these, this agreement came to be,” he said.

Moreover, union officials are bothered because some 15 shrimping sector firms are looking to found an association of breeders “without their consent,” he told El Comercio.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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