Yahira Piedrahita

Yahira Piedrahita is an Aquaculture Engineer from ESPOL, with a diploma in Fisheries Economics and a master's degree in Bioaquatic Resource Management and Environment.

She has over 35 years of experience in shrimp aquaculture, in areas such as production, health management, water and soil quality, quality control, etc. She is a certified instructor for HACCP and SCP. She has a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of EU, US, and China legislation regarding food safety, market access requirements, audit procedures, and related activities.

She has served in the government sector as the General Director of Aquaculture and General Director of the National Institute of Fisheries of Ecuador.

She has also been a university lecturer and has worked as a consultant for several multinational companies, as well as an expert in fishing and aquaculture for the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI), the European Union, and the United Nations (UNIDO and FAO).

She is a founding member of the International Center for Strategic Aquaculture Studies (CIDEEA), a member of the Advisory Council of the Soy Excellence Center of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and a board member of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) for the 2023-2026 term. Since 2011, she has been the Executive Director of the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador.