Ecuadorian Shrimp Farms Achieve Living Wage Compliance

In a significant advancement for seafood sustainability, three shrimp farms, members of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP), have successfully aligned their compensation structures with living wage estimates. This achievement has been verified through third-party audits, confirming that these farms meet or exceed the necessary thresholds.

Leading the Way in Responsible Shrimp Production

Ecuador, recognized as the world’s top producer and exporter of shrimp, marks a historic milestone by presenting new evidence illustrating the feasibility of measuring and demonstrating compliance with living wages in shrimp farming. This was made possible through a detailed case study developed collaboratively by SSP and IDH, revealing that three SSP-affiliated shrimp farms have effectively met and surpassed the applicable living wage benchmarks in their respective regions.

Understanding Living Wages

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines living wages as the level of pay necessary to ensure a decent standard of living for workers and their families. It takes into account national circumstances as well as the work performed during standard working hours, exclusive of overtime. The Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC) specifies that living wages include adequate access to essential needs such as food, water, housing, education, healthcare, and transportation, while also providing for unforeseen circumstances.

Case Study Analysis

The case study evaluates the compensation structures at the Chongón (Corporación Lanec), Cachugran (Omarsa), and Marfrisco (Promarisco) farms. It contrasts workers’ incomes against the local cost of living, utilizing payroll data from 2024 and the IDH Salary Matrix tool, which is based on the Anker methodology. The third-party verification process confirmed the findings, ensuring the integrity of the results.

Insights from Industry Leaders

“Today, trust and responsibility are central to how consumers choose their food—and how we at SSP understand shrimp production. The experience of Ecuadorian shrimp exemplifies a vital lesson for the entire seafood industry: it is indeed possible to produce nutritious, high-quality food while also caring for people,” remarked Pamela Nath, Director of SSP. “Product quality now encompasses not only what is produced but also the manner of production, with living wages being an integral part of that standard.”

Furthermore, Sonia Cordera, Director of Market Engagement at IDH, emphasized: “Living wages are becoming a clear expectation within responsible business practices across supply chains. As demands for transparency regarding working conditions escalate, the SSP case study serves as a practical roadmap for others, showcasing how to effectively measure and manage living wages.”

Setting Industry Standards

José Antonio Camposano, President of the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA), added, “Ecuador, as the world’s leading shrimp exporter, has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to spearhead sustainability initiatives that redefine product quality today. The SSP farm case study validates the integration of verifiable criteria, such as living wages, into production practices, thereby enabling the industry to differentiate its offerings in markets that prioritize social well-being.”

Future Directions

The case study not only highlights the viability of measuring living wages within the Ecuadorian context but also underscores the supportive labor framework and accessible data that facilitate such assessments. Additionally, the project has empowered the participating farms, strengthening their technical capabilities for future evaluations.

As a progressive move, SSP aims to scale this approach by incorporating living wages as a formal criterion in its member standards and progressively extending its application throughout the value chain.