The Ecuadorean Government keeps no records of the amount of 

 shrimp caught. Local consumption is probably about 500,000 pounds 

 annually, headless basis. The 195U catch is estimated to have been 

 about 1.3 million pounds, headless weight, with a value to the fisher- 

 men of about $J4J|0,000. About two-thirds of the catch comes from the 

 Gulf of Gucyaquil and one-third from near Esmeraldas. 



Fishing for shrimp in Ecuador is done throughout the year, 

 as there are no closed seasons or closed areas. From the reports of 

 the fishermen and dealers the fishery appears to be seasonal. In the 

 northern area, near Esmeraldas, the best season is from Jvne to November, 

 and in the Gulf of Guayaquil it is from December to April, The Gulf of 

 Guayaquil is fished the year around. The northern area is fished only 

 during the better season, when a freezing ship and a fleet of trawlers 

 nwve in from the G\alf of Guayaquil. There are no shore facilities in 

 the north, 



OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCTION 



The Ecuadorean shrimp catch has excellent prospects of increas- 

 ing. The better boats now catch around a hundred thousand pounds or more 

 of shrimp, headless weight, a year. The fishing areas for the large 

 white shrimp cannot be increased very much since the only places where 

 these shrimp are likely to occ\xr and are not now fished to any extent 

 are at Cojimies and Caraquez, These two areas are quite limited in size 

 and consequently are not likely to produce any great quantity of these 

 shrimp. The available fishing grounds, nevertheless, can be fished more 

 intensely than now and should produce a greater yield. 



The maximum annual production of white shrimp for Ecuador is 

 estimated to be between 3 and 6 million pounds, headless weight. 

 Naturally, as the maximum yield is approached the catch per individual 

 boat will decline and the costs per pound will rise. 



There are two areas in the Gulf of Guayaquil that are not now 

 fished but probably could be brought into production provided profitable 

 markets can be found for the shrimp occurring in them. One is the 

 shallow waters where the titi and poraeda abound, and the other is in 

 the deeper waters for the "Panama pinks," Since these areas are not 

 fished now to any extent it is difficult to venture a guess as to their 

 maximum productivity. 



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