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Cameroneras in Ecuador, Jama Ecuador Shrimp Farming, Shrimp farming in Ecuador, WordPress Weekly Challenge - Fresh
Sometimes the birds signal that something is wrong with the pond. Most likely the water in this pond needed more oxygen.
Jama Ecuador
Living on a shrimp farm presents many photo opportunities. My friends who own the ponds are not too fond of the egrets, herons, ibis, storks, pelicans, sea gulls, frigates and cormorants that feast on the shrimp. Watching the birds is a feast for my eyes! This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Fresh, and the shrimp harvest produces lots of fresh shrimp!
The birds love the after-harvest buffet!
The birds flock to the ponds for an all-they-can-eat buffet when the ponds are harvested. Let’s go watch a harvest in progress!
Most ponds are harvested in a canal. Wooden slats (covering the outlet pipe) are gradually removed from top to bottom as the water level drops.
Scheduled during the aguajis – (the highest and lowest tides of the month) – the work begins about twelve hours before the shrimp are harvested.
The pond is in the background, and the outlet pipe is below the water level.
The men manually operate the long tubular net that catches the shrimp that are flushed from the pond.
They seem to be forever smiling; well, most of them smile!
My friend Cesar Cevallos, one of the owners of the farm, oversees the harvest. The Cevallos family uses no chemicals in their farming operation. They should be receiving a premium for organic shrimp, don’t you think?
The men place a cover on top to keep the shrimp from jumping out of the crate.
The shrimp are dumped into a bath of ice water.
Depending on the buyer’s preferences, molasses is sometimes added to the water to improve color of the shrimp.
Big smiles say, “I love my job!” – (Picking out small fish!)
After the shrimp are chilled, they are transferred to an area where they drain.
Placed on long boards, the crates drain before they are weighed. Each crate weighs about 80 pounds.
Each crate is weighed then placed in the truck.
Shrimp harvest – buyer and seller keep separate records.
The truck brings lots of ice, which is used in the big tanks and later to keep the shrimp cold.
Shrimp anyone?
The harvest appeared to be a success.
Many times the workers get a bonus bag of shrimp. Most sell them when they return to town. The bargains are passed to the restaurateurs and then to the consumer! Everyone’s happy when a piscina (pond) is harvested!
Hostal/Restaurante Punta Prieta – Shrimp Finale
Restaurant Exclusivo – ‘Camarones con Verduras” – Oh my, is this ever wonderful!
Oh yes, I’m seriously hungry now! Anyone want to meet me in town for lunch?!!!
Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
What an interesting life you lead. I would eat shrimp but my poor wife is viciously allergic to all that group of foods. I never knew how it was harvested, thanks for the lesson. The meal at the end looked good too. Tony
Food allergies can be scary. Hopefully you’re able to enjoy shellfish every so often when you’re not dining with her.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post! z
Yes, yes, yes – love to join you for lunch 🙂 🙂 We have some shrimp farms here in Kerala, but unfortunately I have never been there for the harvest. We have wonderful old Fort Cochin nearby and buy our fish/prawns etc. there – directly out of the Arabian Sea. Thanks for sharing this highly interesting harvest with us. Ciao, Carina 🙂
Thanks! I love watching the harvest, but it’s very easy for me – I look out and see the big truck near a pond, and that means the harvest is underway.
Shall I send the flying carpet for you? I think the restaurant can handle about 40 people — maybe others will come as well! ( I wonder how many the carpet can hold without crashing!)
You live in a remarkable place – I’m so glad that you share it with us! I’m coming over for dinner! 🙂
There’s room on the magic carpet, as long as it doesn’t overshoot the landings!
I’m going to ask Scottie to beam me over…. 🙂
we’ll hold a place at the table for you!
🙂
you DO want to be part of the check-out ride, don’t you? if so, leave your gps general location or a town we can find on google images
playamart.wordpress.com/2013/07/20/round-the-world-check-out-ride/
Vancouver B.C. Canada! 🙂 🙂 🙂
!!!!!!! roger; over and out til tomorrow!
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat.Com™ and commented:
Fresh Shrimp…..peeled, cleaned, and deep fried. YummY
Yes, send the flying carpet for me too – I’m close to Carina in Kerala so that shouldn’t add too much extra time! 🙂
This is going to be one fun magic carpet ride!
You’d better get everybody fired up and cooking their favourites, because the trip will be a hard act to follow! 🙂
ha! you’re right! start prepping, ethyl, as lucy’s going to fire up the carpet for a full-moon flight on the 22nd!
Well, I’m in the U.S and need a special envoy magic carpet. I will sit and enjoy my vicarious tours with until it arrives.
If timed right they could bring shrimp for me to eat on the long journey.
I LOVE these tours with you. Many thanks,
Patti
thank you for this great comment! i think the waxing full moon and meteor showers will enhance the magic carpet ride! i’ll be sure to pack the shrimp hors d’oeuvres!
I’ve been waiting for this travel confirmation…and, uhm, my ticket?
:>)
jajajajaja – surely there’s a creative option here.. any suggestions?!
where there is a will blah blah blah…let’s just think on it:>)
playamart.wordpress.com/2013/07/20/round-the-world-check-out-ride/
ok amiga! the checkout ride’s about to happen! we’ll need gps coordinates or a town/location we can find via google images!
k will go find my coordinates…and report back for flight.
great! your smiling face will be a great bonus!
Fascinating to learn how the shrimps are harvested and they can sometimes be dipped in molasses.
i wsn’t too crazy about that practice.. anyone with diabetes might get extra sugar.. probably not much, but it still seems deceptive.
the aroma- ah, i loved it – it reminded me of my childhood!
Aroma! Now that would be interesting. Hadn’t thought about that.
perfect, clever system for shrimp harvest, applause!
many of those shrimp are destined for europe – for microwave use!!!!
It does seem as though most of the people in your part of the world are smiling. Is that the way they are — or is it because they see a camera pointed at them?? By the way, I love shrimp (and your blog!)
hugh, i am also so happy that these posts transport you elsewhere for a short while! i usually take their photos because they are smiling!!! most of the smiles are genuine; every so often someone will ‘freeze’ and give me that fake smile, and i say, ‘no way – that’s not you..’
many times i tell someone how beautiful the light and shadow is on the face and ask to take the photo. many times they will shake their head, ‘no..’ and i say, ‘let me take the photo and show you what i see.. and if you don’t like it, i’ll delete the photo.’ they are always pleased, honored, and perhaps see their true beauty for the first time. those are the most rewarding moments.
there is one guy that’s in the canal an is smiling= beaming… he is always smiling like that, and i call him, ‘sonrisa’ which means smile.
thanks again, hugh! have a great day!
Love the blogs on the shrimp harvest and the photos are great. Very interesting. Getting ready to head home. Luego
buen viaje, amigos! i’m glad you had one extra day, and everyone was surely glad to have received the rain. we only got a sprinkle, but every sprinkle helps!
Thanks for this great docu about shrimps harvesting. Your pictures show the atmosphere that well.
Enjoy your weekend and the shrimps 😉
Klausbernd
who loves eating shrimps
thank you! it’s nice to have such a fresh supply— and the ponds are productive year round!
Wow, you are really blessed. What are the shrimps for you are the crabs and lobsters for us here. So the sea takes care of us all 🙂
you are so right!
This is so cool! Great minds think alike too with the theme….:) Fish! Where do they sell the shrimp and how often do they harvest them? Is the pond natural or man-made? So many questions to ask. Can’t believe the birds don’t just clean the pond out of shrimp too!
hey amiga
the ponds are quite deep when full of ocean water; the shrimp stay at the bottom, so most birds don’t reach them unless the shrimp are ill, and they rise toward the surface. that’s when the feeding frenzies start, but they also signal the producer that the shrimp are not well. sometimes if they transfer shrimp from one pond to another, there’s a percentage of shrimp that die, and the birds are there for another feast!
most of the shrimp are for exportation.. many go to europe for microwave use – for the ultra busy… every so often i see someone treating the shrimp with a chemical before they were taken out of the big tubs.. i asked and was surprised: the usda requires that the shrimp are treated before they are shipped.. my friends say, ‘it’s a nasty chemical..’
i have not found out the name of the chemical — it scares me to know, but i am sure it is fr preserving the life of the shrimp…
sigh..
Wow, that is scary about the chemical. Lord knows what goes into our food. No wonder our cancer rates are so high. I would love to see a shrimp pond. This was a great post and thank you too for the response above! I love learning! 🙂
playamart.wordpress.com/2013/07/20/round-the-world-check-out-ride/
hopefully we can pull you away from your obligations for this check-out ride!
if so, leave a comment (above ‘check-out ride’ post) gps or a town/city so we’ll be able to find you!
Argh….I am leaving today for Chicago. I will have to check this out…..
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
. Another great blog on “fresh”. I had no idea they may add molasses to the shrimp. Interesting. There is a woman who calls me to say her dad has just come back from shrimping and how many pounds do I want. Living by the coast has its rewards, as you know.
oh yes.. and shrimp are so versatile, though after watching the harvest, i’ve become more squeamish/sensitive.. those shrimp start jumping and trying to get out of the vortex, but it’s too late, and they end up on the menu…
Lovely photo of the shrimp you will be bringing! Should go great with the fresh veges!
Wonderful series from this harvest! Thank you so much for sharing, because this was completely new views to me! Tasty in the end too…
hey!
i’m so sorry that i missed this comment! yes, it was new to me when i first moved here. i’m glad to share this w/everyone else!
if you want to join the ‘check-out’ ride, leave your gps coordinates or a city/town location in the comment section so that we can find you!!! z
What fun, Z, although not for the shrimp! Thanks and I’m on my way for lunch…or cocktails…or dinner…or….
janet
yes, seeing photos of food always makes me hungry! thanks so much!
Had no clue as to how shrimp farming is done. Great to see all the photos–they truly do speak a thousand words!
Thanks so much for your comment! I never get tired or watching the harvests! I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Pingback: Round-the-World Check-Out Ride | Zeebra Designs & Destinations
The wonders just keep on coming. Thank you for so generously sharing your world with us!
Marcia! Thanks so much! Are you going to be part of the flying carpet test drive?!
Oh how I LOVE shrimp! I’d be in heaven during the harvest! Great narrative and even better pix! 😉
i never get tired of watching the harvest! i’m glad yo enjoyed the post!
Thanks for the inspiration. I had shrimp for dinner with my salmon. Yum. I enjoyed reading how they go about the process. Take care, BTG
salmon and shrimp! yum yum!
You can bet I’ll be there, okay I’m a day late- I wouldn’t miss fresh shrimp for anything. Love reading the seeing through your images the life of a shrimper.
thanks for this comment, and i’ll be sure to have extra shrimp for the check-out ride!
I love the series–the story you tell with your photos!
Very interesting! Thanks for the share! I had no idea shrimp was harvested this way. And it figures that the U.S. would insist on adding chemicals. Go figure that we all have wacky ailments we can’t put a finger on. ..
you are so right! i suppose they’re protecting others from possible salmonella?
Just one thing to say (and think about): I love seafood. 😉
great! you should join the magic carpet test flight,leaving in about twelve hours from the middle of the world!
we’ll need gps coordinates or a town/city to get you on our flight plan!
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=
211954683478896103296.0004e21345f14af978d1f
That’s such a lot of shrimp. I’d love to meet you in town for lunch. It looks delicious. 🙂
we’ll pick you up on the magic carpet checkout ride in about twelve hours.. what town/gps location shall we program the flight computer for?
That is exactly what I am doing for my husband right now. I have been reading about this for years. Thank you so much Lisa.