STOCKSHOTS: Ecuadorean shrimp production

Ecuador's shrimp industry is facing a wave of violent crime that is threatening the country's star export. The South American country is the world's largest shrimp exporter, putting one in every five of the crustaceans on tables around the world, and this "pink gold" raked in a record $7.3 billion in 2022, according to official figures. However, shrimp farmers are being forced to shell out millions of dollars in private security, which could impact the industry's competitiveness compared to countries like India or Viet Nam where production is cheaper.