Prado-Carpio, E.; de Lourdes Olivo-Garrido, M.; Quiñonez-Cabeza, M.; Beitl, C.M.; Martínez-Soto, M.; Rodríguez-Monroy, C. Performance and Challenges in the Value Chain of the Anadara tuberculosa Bivalve Mollusk in Ecuador. Sustainability2021, 13, 10863.
Prado-Carpio, E.; de Lourdes Olivo-Garrido, M.; Quiñonez-Cabeza, M.; Beitl, C.M.; Martínez-Soto, M.; Rodríguez-Monroy, C. Performance and Challenges in the Value Chain of the Anadara tuberculosa Bivalve Mollusk in Ecuador. Sustainability 2021, 13, 10863.
Prado-Carpio, E.; de Lourdes Olivo-Garrido, M.; Quiñonez-Cabeza, M.; Beitl, C.M.; Martínez-Soto, M.; Rodríguez-Monroy, C. Performance and Challenges in the Value Chain of the Anadara tuberculosa Bivalve Mollusk in Ecuador. Sustainability2021, 13, 10863.
Prado-Carpio, E.; de Lourdes Olivo-Garrido, M.; Quiñonez-Cabeza, M.; Beitl, C.M.; Martínez-Soto, M.; Rodríguez-Monroy, C. Performance and Challenges in the Value Chain of the Anadara tuberculosa Bivalve Mollusk in Ecuador. Sustainability 2021, 13, 10863.
Abstract
The bivalve mollusk, Anadara tuberculosa (Black Shell, in Spanish Concha prieta, "CP"), is found on America's Pacific coast, where it is harvested for subsistence and commercial markets. This paper aims to diagnose the performance of the black shell's value chain. We also identify several challenges that must be addressed to improve the sustainability of the black shell fishery in Ecuador. The descriptive methodology was quantitative, with a non-experimental, field, cross-sectional, and ex post facto design. Similar questionnaires were designed, validated, and applied to each link in the production chain to collect information. The performance of the value chain was diagnosed in the dimensions of productivity, competitiveness, and quality of life, reaching a 75.1% index, a result that indicates that the value chain has a moderate to good performance level. However, the value chain can be improved if the following challenges are met: 1) Restoration of the mangrove ecosystem, 2) Promotion of low-intensity shellfish aquaculture, 3) Good sanitary management and purification, 4) Promotion of value-focused ventures, 5) Strengthening of organizations and agreements for the use and custody of mangroves, and 6) Strengthening of institutions that contribute to the advancement of these challenges.
Keywords
Ecuador; American Pacific; Bivalve mollusks; Concha prieta; Value chain; Productivity; Quality-of-life; Competitiveness, Mangrove forest.
Subject
Business, Economics and Management, Business and Management
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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