The impact of climate variability on Ecuador's shrimp farms

Kontali shrimp production analyst Erwin Termaat takes a deep dive into El Niño and La Niña - the climate systems intrinsically linked to Ecuador’s shrimp farming industry - providing insight into past trends and future outlooks. The success of Ecuador’s aquaculture industry, which leads the world in terms of shrimp exports, with 987,900 tonnes LSE exported from January until September in 2024, is deeply intertwined with the natural climate cycles that influence the Pacific Ocean.

Among the most influential of these climate cycles are the El Niño and La Niña phenomena, which are part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). These periodic climatic events significantly shape the productivity of shrimp farming: impacting growth rates, disease prevalence and, ultimately, export volumes.

El Niño’s influence (2019 and 2023)

El Niño, which is marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, can accelerate shrimp growth, improving overall productivity.

La Niña’s impact (2020,2021 and 2022)

By contrast, La Niña, which is characterised by cooler ocean temperatures, has posed challenges for shrimp farming in Ecuador. Cooler waters slow shrimp growth, delay harvest cycles, and increase the risk of diseases such as white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and early mortality syndrome (EMS).

However, the forecasted weakness of the La Niña event suggests its effects may not be as severe as in previous years. Returning to ENSO-neutral conditions by spring 2025 could provide some relief, allowing the industry to stabilise and recover during the later months of 2025.

Above article are excerpt from: https://thefishsite.com/articles/the-impact-of-climate-variability-on-ecuadors-shrimp-farms

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