AGRIMINGOLD S.A. Becomes First Shrimp Farm in Ecuador to Join the Improver Programme by Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
June 11, 2025 | 4 min to read
AGRIMINGOLD S.A., located in El Oro Province, becomes the first Ecuadorian shrimp farm to join the Aquaculture Improvement Project under the Improver Programme by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Producing 753.15 tonnes of litopenaeus vannamei annually, AGRIMINGOLD aims to enhance its environmental sustainability and social responsibility. CEO Annabell Palacios embraced this milestone, reflecting a commitment to protect the environment and support vulnerable communities as part of its journey towards ASC certification.
Shrimp farm AGRIMINGOLD S.A. becomes the first farm in Ecuador to participate in an Aquaculture Improvement Project (AIP) under the Improver Programme by Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). The AIP covers 135 hectares of Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) farm in El Oro Province, Ecuador. AGRIMINGOLD S.A. produces 753.15 tonnes of shrimp annually.
The Improver Programme by ASC supports farms which are not ready or eligible for ASC certification but are committed to improving their farming practices.
Patricia Bianchi, AIP and Governance Manager at ASC said, “We are proud to welcome AGRIMINGOLD S.A., and its brand MAREAROSA, as the first Latin America producer to join the Improver Programme by ASC. Their commitment to positive change and enhancing environmental and social practices reflects the proactive spirit we aim to foster through this initiative.
“We look forward to supporting AGRIMINGOLD S.A./MAREAROSA on their journey towards greater sustainability, social responsibility and, eventually, ASC certification.”
AGRIMINGOLD S.A. CEO Annabell Palacios said, “Our participation in the AIP represents a fundamental milestone in our firm purpose towards environmental sustainability and a solid social responsibility. We want to make a significant contribution to the protection of the environment and the wellbeing of the sector, especially vulnerable communities.
“We are excited to be a part of this initiative, and we are committed to working hard to achieve our goals.” For more information visit MAREAROSA’s webpage.
About the Improver Programme by ASC
ASC already drives change and supports improvements in seafood farming at scale across the world through its certification programme. For those not ASC certified, the Improver Programme by ASC supports farms who are not ready or eligible for ASC certification but are committed to improving their farming practices through an AIP. The combined impact of these many small changes in non-certified seafood farming contributes to the ASC goal of transforming seafood farming, as a whole, for the future.
The Improver Programme (ASC IP) comprises a set of procedures and tools to ensure that improvements are consistently and effectively implemented by producers in the form of Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIP).
Currently, there are 17 active AIPs in the shrimp sector across Ecuador (1), Kenya (1), Bangladesh (1), Indonesia (2), and Thailand (12). For a list of companies in the Improver Programme by ASC, visit this website.
About the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
The Standard is Changing… for fish, farm, planet and people.
ASC is driving the world’s leading certification programme, accelerating progress towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
The ASC Farm Standard addresses all key impacts, setting the standard for seafood farming globally and providing the highest assurance, integrity and transparency throughout the supply chain.
Our vision is a world where aquaculture plays a major role in supplying food and social benefits for humanity whilst minimising negative impacts on the environment.
Our standards ensure that seafood with the ASC label has been farmed with care.
Choose ASC for Change.