WITH THE PRESENCE OF AUTHORITIES AND INTERNATIONAL DELEGATIONS,

AQUAEXPO 2025 WAS INAUGURATED

Guayaquil becomes the epicenter of global aquaculture with the technical-commercial shrimp event AQUAEXPO International 2025, which opened on Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the Baquerizo Moreno hall of the Guayaquil Convention Center and was attended by national authorities, ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, foreign delegations, special guests and media.

More than 500 attendees participated in this event, which marks the beginning of the most important meeting point for global aquaculture. The opening ceremony was led by Danilo Palacios, minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries; Luis Alberto Jaramillo, minister of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment; Humberto Plaza, governor of Guayas; Marcelo Vélez, chairman of the Board of the National Chamber of Aquaculture, and José Antonio Camposano, executive president of the CNA.



During the ceremony, the National Chamber of Aquaculture reaffirmed the sector's social commitment with the symbolic presentation of a check for $10,000 to the REDNI Foundation, funds raised in the CamaRun 5K charity race, organized on October 4 together with Biomar Ecuador. The donation, intended to strengthen the foundation's child nutrition programs, was presented by Vélez, Camposano and Andrés Rivadulla, general manager of Biomar Ecuador, and received by María Fernanda Vásconez Pinto, REDNI's strategic relations manager.  

At the same event, the Organizing Committee of the World Aquaculture Congress recognized Dr. Leonardo Maridueña Alcívar for his technical contribution and commitment to the sustainable development of Ecuadorian aquaculture. With more than three decades of service at the CNA, Dr. Maridueña has contributed to strengthening the sector through the implementation of biosecurity, environmental management and food safety policies, which are the pillars of Ecuadorian shrimp's global leadership. The award was presented by the chairman of the board of the National Chamber of Aquaculture.

The ceremony concluded with the traditional ribbon cutting, which gave way to the official tour of the Trade Fair by the authorities, thus formally inaugurating AQUAEXPO International 2025.

At the same time, the Technical Congress will be held with 60 national and international speakers who will address relevant topics such as animal health, nutrition, product quality and safety, production efficiency, adoption of emerging technologies, and shrimp market prospects.

THE AQUAEXPO 2025 TECHNICAL CONGRESS STARTED TODAY

The technical program of the congress will take place in two simultaneous rooms, where critical issues such as animal health, nutritional strategies, product quality and safety, efficiency in production processes, adoption of emerging technologies and future prospects for the shrimp market will be addressed. We will have the valuable contribution of more than 60 international and Ecuadorian experts, who will share their knowledge through presentations and panel discussions.

Below are some of the highlights of the day:

COMPARISON OF REAL-TIME PCR TESTS BASED ON TAQMAN PROBES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TRANSLUCENT POST-LARVAE DISEASE (TPD) IN PENAEUS VANNAMEI

Speaker: Hung N Mai, PhD (Vietnam)



Translucent Postlarvae Disease (TPD) is an emerging disease that mainly affects Penaeus vannamei postlarvae and is characterized by pale hepatopancreas and a translucent body. Initial investigations identified highly virulent strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with TPD, although a diversity of agents involved has been reported. Molecular diagnosis by real-time PCR based on TaqMan probes has been adopted for epidemiological surveillance due to its hybridization specificity, as these provide an extra layer of specificity compared to methods based solely on intercalants (such as SYBR Green), requiring sequence concordance in the primer and probe. In the comparative practice, four key attributes are evaluated: genetic target (virulence gene vs. species-specific gene), limit of detection (LOD), diagnostic sensitivity/specificity, and resistance to inhibitors present in PL matrices. For TPD, common targets include virulence genes identified in strains (e.g., genes associated with highly virulent proteins), which makes it easier to differentiate Vp-TPD from non-pathogenic Vibrio. The quantification (gene loads) provided by TaqMan allows us to distinguish between low-load carriers and high-load animals associated with mortality, supporting management decisions for shrimp farmers.

ADVANCES IN PHAGOTHERAPY IN ECUADOR: SYNERGY OF BACTERIOPHAGES AND PHYTOBIOTICS IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES IN SHRIMP CULTURES

Speaker: Daniel Aguilera (Ecuador)

Phage therapy in Ecuador has advanced rapidly in recent years as a sustainable alternative for controlling pathogenic bacteria in Penaeus vannamei farms. Local research groups and companies have isolated lytic phages targeting Vibrio spp., with selection protocols that prioritize broad spectrum within pathogenic strains and stability in saline water. In vitro experimental trials and tests under controlled conditions show that “phage cocktails” can reduce bacterial load and improve the survival of postlarvae and juveniles against outbreaks of V. parahaemolyticus and AHPND. Phytobiotics have been shown to reduce biofilm formation and weaken bacterial defenses, facilitating phage access and replication in target bacteria. In addition, certain phytobiotics act as immunostimulants in shrimp, which can reduce infectious load and improve response to phage treatment. In Ecuador, local phage production and formulation capacity has been developed, facilitating the adaptation of products to regional strains and reducing logistical response times.

THIS AFTERNOON

RACE TO THE TOP IS ON AND READY

For the second consecutive year, Race to the Top is taking place at AQUAEXPO International 2025, a space for dialogue on sustainability that brings together representatives from the private sector and international organizations. This forum seeks to drive innovation, environmental responsibility and climate resilience in food production, promoting a shared vision of sustainable progress within and outside the aquaculture sector.

The two most influential proteins in aquaculture —shrimp and salmon—are coming together in Guayaquil during the second edition of Race to the Top. Organized by the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA), this event is bringing together more than 30 global leaders, international executives and experts from different industries to exchange experiences and build joint solutions under the slogan “Transform, Inspire, Lead”.

THIS AFTERNOON:

THE AQUAEXPO TRADE FAIR IS OPEN

The Trade Fair is expected to attract international delegations from 30 countries to an exhibition area of more than 8,000 square meters, with stands for 200 participating companies. More than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend each day.

Exhibitors will present innovative equipment:

SOLAR-POWERED FEEDERS: Automatic equipment that works with solar panels and can be placed in pools to properly distribute shrimp feed.

INDUSTRIAL FREEZING SYSTEMS: Ammonia compressor that cools and maintains stable temperatures in industrial refrigeration systems for the shrimp industry.

SHRIMP HARVESTERS: To ensure zero damage and stress to the shrimp and reduce harvesting time. They offer higher product quality with greater distance and weight.

DRONES FOR AQUACULTURE USE: Unmanned aerial vehicles for irrigation, fumigation, telemetry, and monitoring that optimize environmental control and pond management.

POND OXYGENATORS: To produce and fix oxygen in the water, with high levels of saturation of this component between 20 and 40 ppm.

POWER GENERATORS: Equipment to generate power and supply the electrical needs of shrimp production, with greater fuel efficiency.

CONTAMINANT DETECTORS: To analyze samples and identify harmful substances, ensuring the safety and quality of aquaculture foods.

WATER PUMPS: To pump large volumes of water from estuaries, rivers or the sea to cultivation pools, designed to facilitate water exchange and oxygenation.