Product inspection
Random samples drawn from finished cartons of your lot. We deglaze, weigh, count and grade them against your spec and send you the results before you release payment.
During or right after productionIndependent quality control · Ecuador
Shrimp Inspection in Ecuador
We inspect your shrimp at the packing plant, during production and container loading, and send you a report with photos, count, net weight after glaze, defects and temperature. We are paid by the buyer, so we report for the buyer.
Your eyes at the plant, before the container leaves
Shrimp & Sea is an independent shrimp inspection company in Ecuador. Since 2019 we have inspected Ecuadorian vannamei shrimp for importers in the United States, Europe and Asia. We check that what the plant packs matches your purchase order and specification, and we tell you before shipment, when a problem can still be fixed at the plant and not in a claim months later.
Since 2019inspecting Ecuadorian shrimp
Next business dayreport with photos and data
Guayaquil · Durán · El Oro · Mantamain packing areas covered
EN · ES · 中文report and contact languages
Inspection services
Pre-shipment inspection, from production to the sealed container
Loading supervision
On-site at the container: core temperature, container set point and pre-cooling, carton count, labels, stowage and seal numbers, all photographed.
Loading dayRe-inspection
If a lot fails, the plant reworks or replaces it and we inspect again, so only approved product goes into your container.
After a failed resultOrder confirmation review
Before production, we go through the proforma and label with the plant: size, glaze, packing, brand, sulfite limits and destination requirements.
Before production startsShipping documents check
A second check of invoice, packing list, B/L draft and certificates against the order, to avoid errors that hold a container at the port.
After departureSourcing support
Buying from Ecuador for the first time? We also connect you with approved plants and follow your order from confirmation to arrival.
Before you buyWhat we check
The numbers that decide a good load from a costly one
Every inspection report covers the same parameters, measured on samples from the lot and compared with your purchase order.
| Parameter | How we measure it | What it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Count per lb / kg | Pieces counted per pound (or kilo) after deglazing, plus uniformity between the largest and smallest shrimp. | That a 26/30 is really 26/30, and your cost per piece. |
| Net weight after glaze | Glaze removed with water, product drained and weighed; compared with the declared net weight per box. | Paying for shrimp, not ice. Short weight is one of the most common claims in frozen seafood. |
| Glaze percentage | Frozen weight vs. net weight on the same sample. | That the glaze matches the contract. |
| Defects | Black spot (melanosis), broken and damaged pieces, soft shell, dehydration, poor peeling or deveining, foreign matter. | The grade you paid for (Class A, B…). |
| Cooking test | A sample is cooked and checked for odor, flavor, texture and color. | Off-flavors that raw inspection can miss. |
| Temperature | Core temperature of the product, and cold-room and container temperatures at loading. | Cold-chain integrity and signs of thawing. |
| Sulfite residual | We review the plant’s residual analysis against your limit and your destination’s rules. | Rejections at US or EU ports. |
| Labels & packing | Brand, size, dates, lot codes, carton and master condition, packing type (block, IQF, semi-IQF). | That the product can be sold as labeled. |
Why it matters
In the sample, a small difference. In the whole container, real money.
A net weight 2% below the declared weight looks minor in one box. Across a full container it adds up to hundreds of pounds you pay for and never receive. The U.S. FDA found that 36% of the frozen seafood import samples it tested between 2022 and 2024 were under their declared weight; the Ecuadorian shrimp samples in that program passed. An inspection before shipment is how you keep it that way for your own orders.
Container (example)1,680 cartons × 10 lb
Declared net weight16,800 lb
Net weight 2% short− 336 lb
At USD 4.50 / lb (example)× 4.50
Paid but not receivedUSD 1,512
Illustrative figures only, not from a specific order. The same logic applies to counts above spec: more pieces per pound means a smaller shrimp than the one you paid for.
How it works
From your purchase order to our report
01
Send the order
Share the PO, specification and plant. Tell us the production and loading dates.
02
We schedule
We coordinate the visit with the plant and assign an inspector in that region.
03
We inspect
Samples, measurements and photos at the plant, during production and at loading.
04
You decide
You receive the report the next business day and decide whether to approve, rework or re-inspect.
Products we inspect
Every presentation of Ecuadorian vannamei shrimp
HOSO head-on shell-on
HLSO headless shell-on
PD / PUD peeled
P&D peeled & deveined
PDTO / PPV tail-on
Butterfly & skewers
Raw & precooked
Block · Semi-IQF · IQF · Brine
On the ground
Real inspections at Ecuadorian plants
Photos from our own inspections. Buyer, plant, PO and dates are removed.
Why independent
We work for the buyer, not the plant
Many agents in shrimp are paid by the packer. We are hired and paid by the importer, so our report reads the same whether the news is good or bad. When we find a difference, we show it with the measurement and the photo, and we explain what it means for your order.
Standards & markets
We check the product and the plant’s documents against what your market requires:
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Buyers we inspect for are in the United States, Europe and Asia. Reports in English, Spanish or Chinese on request.
FAQ
Questions buyers ask us
Which plants in Ecuador do you inspect?
Any export packing plant in Ecuador. Most of our inspections are in Guayaquil, Durán, El Oro (Machala and Santa Rosa) and Manta. Tell us the plant name and we confirm coverage and date.
How far in advance should I book an inspection?
As soon as you know the production date. With two to three business days’ notice we can schedule an inspector in almost every case.
How is net weight after glaze measured?
We take sample boxes, remove the glaze with water, drain the product and weigh it. The drained weight is compared with the net weight declared on the box and on your contract.
What happens if the lot does not meet my specification?
We report it with the measurements and photos, and you decide. Usually the plant reworks, repacks or replaces the product, and we re-inspect before loading.
Who pays for the inspection?
The buyer. That is what keeps the report independent. We quote per inspection or per pound, depending on the service and volume.
Do you supervise container loading?
Yes. We record product and container temperatures, carton count, labels and seal numbers, with photos of the loading.
Can you help me buy shrimp from Ecuador?
Yes. Besides inspection, we work with plants across Ecuador and can source HOSO, HLSO and value-added shrimp for you. See our products.
Protect your next order from Ecuador
Send us the plant, product and ship date. We reply with availability and a quote.