Performance and Challenges in the Value Chain of the Anadara tuberculosa Bivalve Mollusk in Ecuador

Eveligh Prado-Carpio, María de Lourdes Olivo-Garrido, Manuel Quiñonez-Cabeza, Christine M. Beitl, Moisés Martínez-Soto and Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy
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Eveligh Prado-Carpio: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica de Machala, Machala 070102, Ecuador
María de Lourdes Olivo-Garrido: Departamento de Ciencias Sociales y Económicas, Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Distrito Capital, Caracas 1041, Venezuela
Manuel Quiñonez-Cabeza: Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas y Económicas, Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas, Esmeraldas 080102, Ecuador
Christine M. Beitl: Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5773, USA
Moisés Martínez-Soto: Departamento de Agronomía, Ciudad Universitaria, Núcleo Agropecuario, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo 4005, Venezuela
Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy: Departamento de Ingeniería de Organización, Administración de Empresas y Estadística, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: The bivalve mollusk, Anadara tuberculosa (Black Shell, in Spanish Concha Prieta), 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 applied methodology was quantitative and descriptive. Its design was non-experimental, field, cross-sectional and ex post facto. The investigation was carried out from January to October 2019 in the Jambelí archipelago, El Oro province, Ecuador. The study population consisted of 565 individuals, shellfish collectors, shellfish associations managers, traders, and restaurants from the A. tuberculosa production chain. The sample size was estimated at 222 informants. The type of sampling used was probabilistic, random, stratified, and with proportional allocation, with an effective participation rate of those selected of approximately 80%. The questionnaire was applied personally through the structured survey method, in writing, in the work area, and with their consent. 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. The competitiveness dimension reached the highest performance, followed by productivity. Quality of life was the dimension with the lowest performance. 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 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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