Gran Canaria stands out at the World Aquaculture Conference in Ecuador for its potential as a testbed

Gran Canaria stood out as a testbed at the World Aquaculture Conference held in Ecuador – a country which invoices 2 billion Euros per year in this sector – thanks to its potential as a testbed for the aquaculture and marine biotechnology industries.

The commercial expedition that travelled to Guayaquil, in Ecuador, was led by the Councillor for Economic Development of the Island Council (Cabildo) of Gran Canaria, Raúl García Brink, who was accompanied by representatives of the Corporation for the Economic Development of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) and of the Primary Sector and Food Sovereignty Office of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, by a technician from the Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC) and a director from the firm Langostino Real based in the town of Ingenio.

The Cabildo organised a day session to reveal the business opportunities Gran Canaria offers to the aquaculture and marine biotechnology industries, which was attended by representatives of the leading companies in the industry. The expedition from Gran Canaria also learnt about the work carried out at the prawn nurseries run by Biogemar, which signed an agreement with the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to share knowledge and technology to genetically improve larvae.

During the visit, García Brink, announced that the Cabildo of Gran Canaria is considering the possibility of starting an R&D&I project with companies from Gran Canaria and Ecuador, which would have the collaboration of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and would help “boost the rearing of larvae and supplying the emerging European market”.

Some Ecuadorean companies in the prawn industry stated that they do not rule out diversifying their activities within the territory of the European Union, “focused on the production of a distinct product and with a high added value as is the case with fresh prawn”, added the Councillor.