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Fishing

The Coastal region of Ecuador is a main producer and exporter of shrimp and fish products, which in 1999 reached over USD 800 million in exports. Ecuador 's shrimp is renowned worldwide and contributes to the economy as the second largest export earner.

In 1999, the shrimp industry was hard hit by the white spot and yellow head diseases, which severely affected the production and export of shrimp. Another problem facing the industry is the destruction of the natural habitat of shrimp larvae because of the illegal clearing of mangrove swamps, strangely enough, to build more shrimp ponds.

Seafood production and exports declined in the late 1990's due to the El Niño weather, and are slowly recovering to pre 1997 levels. Fresh and frozen fish exports include: tuna, flounder, bass, swordfish, shark, salmon, etc. There is also an increasing interest in the export of fresh water fish such as trout, which is currently being farmed in the Sierra region for domestic consumption and fishing sports.