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| Shrimp | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The shrimpPalaemon serratus of the infraorderCaridea, traditionally referred to as "common prawn" | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Superorder: | Eucarida |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Groups included | |
| |
Ashrimp (pl.: shrimp (US) or shrimps (UK)) is acommon name typically used forcrustaceans with an elongated body and a primarilyswimming mode of locomotion – usuallydecapods belonging to theCaridea orDendrobranchiata, although somecrustaceans outside of this order are also referred to as "shrimp". Any small crustacean may also be referred to as "shrimp", regardless of resemblance.
More narrow definitions may be restricted toCaridea, to smaller species of either of the aforementioned groups, or only themarine species. Under a broader definition,shrimp may be synonymous withprawn, covering stalk-eyed swimmingcrustaceans with long, narrow muscular tails (abdomens), long whiskers (antennae), and slender,biramous legs.[1] They swim forward by paddling theswimmerets on the underside of their abdomens, although their escape response is typically repeated flicks with the tail, driving them backwards very quickly ("lobstering").Crabs andlobsters have strong walking legs, whereas shrimp typically have thin, fragile legs which they use primarily for perching.[2]
Shrimp arewidespread andabundant. There are thousands of species adapted to a wide range of habitats, bothfreshwater and marine; they can be found feeding near theseafloor on mostcoasts andestuaries, as well as inrivers andlakes. They play important roles in thefood chain and are an important food source for larger animals ranging fromfish towhales; toescape predators, some species flip off the seafloor and dive into the sediment.[2] They usually live from one to seven years.[3] Shrimp are often solitary, though they can form largeschools during thespawning season.[2][4]
Being one of the more popularshellfish eaten, the muscular tails of many forms of shrimp areeaten by humans, and they are widelycaught andfarmed for human consumption. Commercially important shrimp species support an industry worth 50 billion dollars a year,[2] and in 2010 the total commercial production of shrimp was nearly 7 million tonnes.[needs update]Shrimp farming became more prevalent during the 1980s, particularly inChina, and by 2007 the harvest from shrimp farms exceeded the capture of wild shrimp. Excessivebycatch andoverfishing (from wild shrimperies) is a significant concern, and waterways may suffer frompollution when they are used to support shrimp farming.
From Raymond Bauer inRemarkable Shrimps:[5]
- Shrimp is characteristically used to refer to those crustaceans with long antennae, slender legs, and a laterally compressed, muscular abdomen that is highly adapted for both forward swimming and a backward (retrograde) escape response.
- Prawn is often used as a synonym ofshrimp forpenaeoidean andcaridean shrimp, especially those of large size.
From the English Oxford Dictionaries:
The termsshrimp andprawn arecommon names, notscientific names. They arevernacular orcolloquial terms, which lack the formal definition ofscientific terms. They are nottaxa, but are terms of convenience with littlecircumscriptional significance. There is no reason to avoid using the termsshrimp orprawn when convenient, but it is important not to confuse them with the names or relationships of actual taxa.[8]
According to the crustacean taxonomist Tin-Yam Chan, "The termsshrimp andprawn have no definite reference to any known taxonomic groups. Although the termshrimp is sometimes applied to smaller species, whileprawn is more often used for larger forms, there is no clear distinction between both terms and their usage is often confused or even reverse in different countries or regions."[9] Writing in 1980,L. B. Holthuis noted that the termsprawn andshrimp were used inconsistently "even within a single region", generalising that larger species fished commercially were generally calledshrimp in the United States, andprawns in otherEnglish-speaking countries, although not without exceptions.[10]
Much confusion surrounds the scope of the termshrimp. Part of the confusion originates with the word'sassociation with smallness; many shrimp species are small, about 2 cm (0.79 in) long, but some shrimp exceed 25 cm (9.8 in), such asPenaeus monodon. The expression "jumbo shrimp" can be viewed as an oxymoron, a problem that does not exist with the commercial designation "jumbo prawns".[11] Larger shrimp are more likely to betargeted commercially and are often referred to asprawns, particularly in theCommonwealth of Nations.
The termshrimp originated around the 14th century with theMiddle Englishshrimpe, akin to theMiddle Low Germanschrempen, and meaning 'to contract or wrinkle'; and theOld Norseskorpna, meaning 'to shrivel up', orskreppa, meaning 'a thin person'.[12][13] It is not clear where the termprawn originated, but early forms of the word surfaced in England in the early 15th century asprayne, praine andprane.[14][15][16] According to the linguistAnatoly Liberman it is unclear howshrimp, in English, came to be associated withsmall, since no other language with Germanic origins associates shrimp with how large they are. "The same holds for Romance... it remains unclear in what circumstances the name was applied to the crustacean."[17]
Taxonomic studies in Europe on shrimp and prawns were shaped by thecommon shrimp and thecommon prawn, both found in huge numbers along the European coastlines. The common shrimp,Crangon crangon, was categorised in 1758 byCarl Linnaeus, and the common prawn,Palaemon serratus, was categorised in 1777 byThomas Pennant. The common shrimp is a small burrowing species aligned with the notion of a shrimp as being something small, whereas the common prawn is much larger. The termstrue shrimp ortrue prawn are sometimes used to mean what a particular person thinks is a shrimp or prawn.[8] This varies with the person using the terms. But such terms are not normally used in the scientific literature, because the termsshrimp andprawn themselves lack scientific standing. Over the years the wayshrimp andprawn are used has changed, and nowadays the terms are almost interchangeable. Although from time to time some biologists declare that certain common names should be confined to specific taxa, the popular use of these names seems to continue unchanged.[8][18]
Shrimp are swimmingcrustaceans with long narrow muscularabdomens and longantennae. Unlike crabs and lobsters, shrimp have well-developedpleopods (swimmerets) and slender walking legs; they are more adapted for swimming than walking. Historically, it was the distinction between walking and swimming that formed the primary taxonomic division into the former subordersNatantia andReptantia. Members of the Natantia (shrimp in the broader sense) were adapted for swimming while the Reptantia (crabs, lobsters, etc.) were adapted for crawling or walking.[19] Some other groups also have common names that include the word "shrimp";[20] any small swimming crustacean resembling a shrimp tends to be called one,[2] and a number of small-bodied crustacean groups not resembling shrimp arealso referred to as shrimp.[21]
| Differences between shrimp, lobsters and crabs | ||
|---|---|---|
 shrimp |  lobsters  |  crabs |
| Shrimp are slender with long muscular abdomens. They look somewhat like small lobsters, but not like crabs. Theabdomens of crabs are small and short, whereas the abdomens of lobsters and shrimp are large and long. The lower abdomens of shrimp support pleopods which are well-adapted for swimming. Thecarapaces of crabs are wide and flat, whereas the carapaces of lobsters and shrimp are more cylindrical. Theantennae of crabs are short, whereas the antennae of lobsters and shrimp are usually long, reaching more than twice the body length in some shrimp species.[2][20][22][8] | Clawed lobsters(pictured left) andspiny lobsters(pictured right) are an intermediate evolutionary development between shrimp and crabs. They look somewhat like large versions of shrimp. Clawed lobsters have large claws while spiny lobsters do not, having instead spiny antennae and carapace. Some of the biggest decapods are lobsters. Like crabs, lobsters have robust legs and are highly adapted for walking on the seafloor, though they do not walk sideways. Some species have rudimentary pleopods, which give them some ability to swim, and like shrimp they canlobster with their tail to escape predators, but their primary mode of locomotion is walking, not swimming.[2][20][22][23] | Crabs evolved from early shrimp, though they do not look like shrimp. Unlike shrimp, theirabdomens are small, and they have shortantennae and shortcarapaces that are wide and flat. They have prominent graspingclaws as their front pair of limbs. Crabs are adapted for walking on the seafloor. They have robust legs and usually move about the seafloor by walking sideways. They have pleopods, but they use them asintromittent organs or to hold egg broods, not for swimming. Whereas shrimp and lobsters escape predators bylobstering, crabs cling to the seafloor and burrow into sediment. Compared to shrimp and lobsters, the carapaces of crabs are particularly heavy, hard andmineralized.[2][20][22][24][25] |
Only 57 exclusively fossil species are known in the shrimpfossil record.[26] The earliest dates from theLower Jurassic, followed by specimens from theCretaceous.[27]
The following description refers mainly to the external anatomy of the common European shrimp,Crangon crangon, as a typical example of a decapod shrimp. The body of the shrimp is divided into two main parts: the head and thorax which are fused together to form thecephalothorax, and a long narrowabdomen. The shell which protects the cephalothorax is harder and thicker than the shell elsewhere on the shrimp and is called thecarapace. The carapace typically surrounds thegills, through which water is pumped by the action of the mouthparts.[28] The rostrum, eyes, whiskers and legs also issue from the carapace. Therostrum, from the Latinrōstrum meaningbeak, looks like a beak or pointed nose at the front of the shrimp's head. It is a rigid forward extension of the carapace and can be used for attack or defense. It may also stabilize the shrimp when it swims backward. Two bulbouseyes on stalks sit either side of the rostrum. These arecompound eyes which have panoramic vision and are very good at detecting movement. Two pairs of whiskers (antennae) also issue from the head. One of these pairs is very long and can be twice the length of the shrimp, while the other pair is quite short. The antennae have sensors on them which allow the shrimp to feel where they touch, and also allow them to "smell" or "taste" things bysampling the chemicals in the water. The long antennae help the shrimp orient itself with regard to its immediate surroundings, while the short antennae help assess the suitability of prey.[2][20]
Eight pairs of appendages issue from the cephalothorax. The first three pairs, themaxillipeds, Latin for "jaw feet", are used asmouthparts. InCrangon crangon, the first pair, themaxillula, pumps water into thegill cavity. After the maxilliped come five more pairs of appendages, thepereiopods. These form the ten decapod legs. InCrangon crangon, the first two pairs of pereiopods have claws orchela. The chela can grasp food items and bring them to the mouth. They can also be used for fighting and grooming. The remaining four legs are long and slender, and are used for walking or perching.[2][20][8][29]
The muscular abdomen has six segments and has a thinner shell than the carapace. Each segment has a separate overlapping shell, which can be transparent. The first five segments each have a pair of appendages on the underside, which are shaped like paddles and are used for swimming forward. The appendages are calledpleopods or swimmerets, and can be used for purposes other than swimming. Some shrimp species use them for brooding eggs, others have gills on them for breathing, and the males in some species use the first pair or two for insemination. The sixth segment terminates in thetelson flanked by two pairs of appendages called theuropods. The uropods allow the shrimp to swim backward, and function like rudders, steering the shrimp when it swims forward. Together, the telson and uropods form a splayed tail fan. If a shrimp is alarmed, it can flex its tail fan in a rapid movement. This results in a backward dart called thecaridoid escape reaction (lobstering).[2][20][8]
Shrimp are widespread, and can be found near the seafloor of most coasts and estuaries, as well as in rivers and lakes. There are numerous species, and usually there is a species adapted to any particular habitat.[2] Most shrimp species are marine, although about a quarter of the described species are found infresh water.[30] Marine species are found at depths of up to 5,000 metres (16,000 ft),[28] and from the tropics to the polar regions. Although shrimp are almost entirely fully aquatic, the two species ofMerguia aresemi-terrestrial and spend a significant part of their life on land inmangrove.[31][32]
Shrimp Aquarium –YouTube
Window Washing Shrimp –YouTube
Scorpion Fish being cleaned by Pederson Shrimp –YouTubeThere are many variations in the ways different types of shrimp look and behave. Even within the core group ofcaridean shrimp, the small delicatePederson's shrimp (above) looks and behaves quite unlike the large commercialpink shrimp or the snappingpistol shrimp.[8] The caridean family of pistol shrimp are characterized by big asymmetrical claws, the larger of which can produce a loud snapping sound. The family is diverse and worldwide in distribution, consisting of about 600 species.[34] Colonies of snapping shrimp are a major source of noise in the ocean and can interfere with sonar and underwater communication.[35][36][37] The smallemperor shrimp has asymbiotic relationship withsea slugs andsea cucumbers, and may help keep them clear of ectoparasites.[38]
Pistol Shrimp sonic weapon –BBC: Weird Nature_on_Bohadschia_argus_(Sea_cucumber).jpg)
Emperor shrimp feeds while sea cucumber spawnsYouTube
Living Together: Shrimp and FishBBC: Trials of LifeMost shrimp areomnivorous, but some are specialised for particular modes of feeding. Some arefilter feeders, using theirsetose (bristly) legs as a sieve; some scrapealgae from rocks.Cleaner shrimp feed on the parasites andnecrotic tissue of the reef fish they groom.[28] Some species of shrimp are known to cannibalize others as well if other food sources are not readily available. In turn, shrimp are eaten by various animals, particularly fish and seabirds, and frequently hostbopyrid parasites.[28]
Females of the freshwater shrimpCaridina ensifera are capable of storing sperm from multiple partners, and thus can produce progeny with different paternities.[39] Reproductive success of sires was found to correlate inversely with their genetic relatedness to the mother.[39] This finding suggests that sperm competition and/or pre- and post-copulatory female choice occurs. Female choice may increase the fitness of progeny by reducinginbreeding depression that ordinarily results from the expression ofhomozygous deleterious recessive mutations.[40]
There is little agreement among taxonomists concerning thephylogeny of crustaceans.[41] Within the decapods, "every study gives totally different results. Nor do even one of these studies match any of the rival morphology studies".[42] Some taxonomists identify shrimp with the infraorderCaridea andprawns with the suborderDendrobranchiata.[43] While different experts give different answers, there is no disagreement that the caridean species are shrimp.[2] There are over 3000 caridean species.[44] Occasionally they are referred to as "true shrimp".[45]
Traditionally,decapods were divided into two suborders: theNatantia (or swimmers) and theReptantia (or walkers). The Natantia or swimmers included the shrimp. They were defined by their abdomen which, together with its appendages was well adapted for swimming. The Reptantia or walkers included the crabs and lobsters. These species have small abdominal appendages, but robust legs well adapted for walking. The Natantia was thought to beparaphyletic; that is, it was thought that originally all decapods were like shrimp.[46]
However, classifications are now based onclades, and the paraphyletic suborder Natantia has been discontinued. "On this basis, taxonomic classifications now divide the order Decapoda into the two suborders: Dendrobranchiata for the largest shrimp clade, and Pleocyemata for all other decapods. The Pleocyemata are in turn divided into half a dozen infra-orders"[46]
| Major shrimp groups of theNatantia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order | Suborder | Infraorder | Image | Extant species [44] | Description |
| Decapoda | Dendrobranchiata |  | 533 | Penaeid shrimp
| |
| Pleocyemata | Caridea |  | 3438 | The numerous species in this infraorder are known as caridean shrimp, though only a few are commercially important. They are usually small, nocturnal, difficult to find (they burrow in the sediment), and of interest mainly to marine biologists. Caridean shrimp, such as thepink shrimp pictured, typically have two pairs of claws. Female carideans attach eggs to their pleopods and brood them there. The secondabdominal segment overlaps both the first and the third segment, and the abdomen shows a pronouncedcaridean bend.[2][19][50][51] | |
| Procarididea |  | 6 | A minorsister group to the Caridea (immediately above) | ||
| Stenopodidea | .jpg) | 71 | Known asboxer shrimp, the members of this infraorder are oftencleaner shrimp. Their third pair of walking legs (pereiopods) are greatly enlarged. Thebanded coral shrimp(pictured) is popular in aquariums. The Stenopodidea are a much smaller group than the Dendrobranchia and Caridea, and have no commercial importance.[52] | ||
Other decapod crustaceans also called shrimp, are the ghost or mud shrimp belonging to the infra-orderThalassinidea. In Australia they are calledyabbies.[53] Themonophyly of the group is not certain; recent studies have suggested dividing the group into two infraorders, Gebiidea and Axiidea.[26]
Ashrimp seems to be almost any crustacean that isn't a lobster, barnacle, or crab
A wide variety of non-decapod crustaceans are also commonly referred to as shrimp. This includes thebrine shrimp,clam shrimp,fairy shrimp andtadpole shrimp belonging to thebranchiopods, thelophogastridan shrimp,opossum shrimp andskeleton shrimp belonging theMalacostraca; andseed shrimp which areostracods.[2] Many of these species look quite unlike the commercial decapod shrimp that are eaten as seafood. For example,skeleton shrimp have short legs and a slender tail like a scorpion tail,fairy shrimp swim upside down with swimming appendages that look like leaves, and the tinyseed shrimp have bivalved carapaces which they can open or close.[8]Krill resemble miniature shrimp, and are sometimes called "krill shrimp".[54][55]
| Other species groups commonly known as shrimp | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Image | Group | Extant species | Description | |
| Branchiopoda | Branchiopoda comes from the Greekbranchia meaning gills, andpous meaningfeet.[56] They havegills on their feet ormouthparts.[57] | ||||
 | brine shrimp | 8 | Brine shrimp belong to the genusArtemia. They live in inland saltwater lakes in unusually high salinities, which protects them from most predators. They produce eggs, calledcysts, which can be stored in adormant state for long periods and then hatched on demand. This has led to the extensive use of brine shrimp asfish feed inaquaculture.[58] Brine shrimp are sold as novelty gifts under the marketing nameSea-Monkeys. | ||
.jpg) | clam shrimp | 150 | Clam shrimp belong to the groupConchostraca. These freshwater shrimp have a hingedbivalved carapace which can open and close. | ||
 | fairy shrimp | 300 | Fairy shrimp belong to the classAnostraca. These 1–10 cm long freshwater or brackish shrimp have no carapace. They swim upside down with their belly uppermost, with swimming appendages that look like leaves. Mostfairy shrimp are herbivores, and eat only the algae in the plankton. Their eggs can survive drought and temperature extremes for years, reviving and hatching after the rain returns.[59] | ||
 | tadpole shrimp | 20 | Tadpole shrimp belong to the familyNotostraca. Theseliving fossils have not much changed since theTriassic. They are drought-resistant and can be found preying on fairy shrimp and small fish at the bottom of shallow lakes andtemporary pools.[60] Thelongtail tadpole shrimp(pictured) has three eyes and up to 120 legs withgills on them.[61] It lives for 20–90 days. Different populations can be bisexual,unisexual orhermaphroditic. | ||
| Malacostraca | Malacostraca comes from the Greekmalakós meaningsoft andóstrakon meaningshell.[62] The name is misleading, since normally the shell is hard, and is soft only briefly aftermoulting.[63] | ||||
 | Lophogastrida | 56 | These marinepelagic shrimp make up the orderLophogastrida. They mostly inhabit relatively deep pelagic waters throughout the world. Like the relatedopossum shrimp, females lophogastrida carry abrood pouch.[64] | ||
 | mantis shrimp | 400 | Mantis shrimp, so called because they resemble apraying mantis and a shrimp, make up the orderStomatopoda. They grow up to 38 cm (15 in) long, and can be vividly coloured. Some have powerful spiked claws which they punch into their prey, stunning, spearing and dismembering them. They have been called "thumb splitters" because of the severe gashes they can inflict if handled carelessly.[65] | ||
 | opossum shrimp | 1,000 | Opossum shrimp belong to the orderMysida. They are called opossum shrimp because the females carry abrood pouch. Usually less than 3 cm long, they are not closely related to caridean or penaeid shrimp. They are widespread in marine waters, and are also found in some brackish and freshwater habitats in the Northern hemisphere. Marine mysids can form largeswarms and are an important source of food for many fish. Some freshwater mysids are found in groundwater andanchialine caves.[64][66] | ||
 | skeleton shrimp | Skeleton shrimp, sometimes known as ghost shrimp, areamphipods. Their threadlike slender bodies allow them to virtually disappear among fine filaments in seaweed. Males are usually much larger than females.[67][68] For a good account of a specific species, seeCaprella mutica. | |||
| Ostracoda | Ostracod comes from the Greekóstrakon meaningshell. In this case, the shells are in two parts, like those ofbivalves orclams. | ||||
 | seed shrimp | 13,000 | Seed shrimp make up the classOstracoda. This is a class of numerous small crustacean species which look like seeds, typically about one millimetre (0.04 in) in size. Their carapace looks like a clam shell, with two parts held together by a hinge to allow the shell to open and close. Some marine seed shrimp drift as pelagic plankton, but most live on the sea floor and burrow in the upper sediment layer. There are also freshwater and terrestrial species. The class includes carnivores, herbivores, filter feeders and scavengers.[69] | ||
Somemantis shrimp are a foot long, and have bulging eyes, a flattened tail and formidable claws equipped with clubs or sharp spikes, which it can use to knock out its opponents.[8][65]
Mantis Shrimp Destroys Clam –YouTube_body_plan.png)
Branchiopod shrimp –YouTube
In 1991, archeologists suggested that ancient raised paved areas near the coast inChiapas, Mexico, were platforms used for drying shrimp in the sun, and that adjacentclay hearths were used to dry the shrimp when there was no sun.[71][72] The evidence was circumstantial, because thechitinous shells of shrimp are so thin they degrade rapidly, leaving no fossil remains. In 1985 Quitmyer and others found direct evidence dating back to 600 AD for shrimping off the southeastern coast of North America, by successfully identifying shrimp from the archaeological remains of theirmandibles (jaws).[73][74][75] Clay vessels with shrimp decorations have been found in the ruins ofPompeii.[75] In the 3rd century AD, the Greek authorAthenaeus wrote in his literary work,Deipnosophistae; "... of all fish the daintiest is a young shrimp in fig leaves."[76]
In North America,indigenous peoples of the Americas captured shrimp and other crustaceans infishing weirs andtraps made from branches andSpanish moss, or used nets woven with fibre beaten from plants. At the same time early European settlers, oblivious to the "protein-rich coasts" all about them, starved from lack of protein.[75] In 1735beach seines were imported from France, andCajun fishermen in Louisiana started catchingwhite shrimp and drying them in the sun, as they still do today.[75] In the mid nineteenth century, Chinese immigrants arrived for theCalifornia Gold Rush, many from thePearl River Delta where netting small shrimp had been a tradition for centuries. Some immigrants starting catching shrimp local toSan Francisco Bay, particularly the small inch longCrangon franciscorum. These shrimp burrow into the sand to hide, and can be present in high numbers without appearing to be so. The catch was dried in the sun and was exported to China or sold to the Chinese community in the United States.[75] This was the beginning of the American shrimping industry.Overfishing and pollution from gold mine tailings resulted in the decline of the fishery. It was replaced by a penaeidwhite shrimp fishery on the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. These shrimp were so abundant that beaches were piled withwindrows from theirmoults. Modern industrial shrimping methods originated in this area.[75]
"For shrimp to develop into one of the world's most popular foods, it took the simultaneous development of theotter trawl... and the internal combustion engine."[75] Shrimptrawling can capture shrimp in huge volumes by dragging a net along the seafloor. Trawling was first recorded in England in 1376, when KingEdward III received a request that he ban this new and destructive way of fishing.[77] In 1583, the Dutch banned shrimp trawling in estuaries.[78]
Diesel engines were adapted for use in shrimp boats in the 1920s.Power winches were connected to the engines, and only small crews were needed to rapidly lift heavy nets on board and empty them. Shrimp boats became larger, faster, and more capable. New fishing grounds could be explored, trawls could be deployed in deeper offshore waters, and shrimp could be tracked and caught round the year, instead of seasonally as in earlier times. Larger boats trawled offshore and smaller boats worked bays and estuaries. By the 1960s, steel and fibreglass hulls further strengthened shrimp boats, so they could trawl heavier nets, and steady advances in electronics, radar, sonar, and GPS resulted in more sophisticated and capable shrimp fleets.[75]
As shrimp fishing methods industrialised, parallel changes were happening in the way shrimp wereprocessed. "In the 19th century, sun dried shrimp were largely replaced bycanneries. In the 20th century, the canneries were replaced with freezers."[75]
In the 1970s, significantshrimp farming was initiated, particularly in China. The farming accelerated during the 1980s as the quantity of shrimp demand exceeded the quantity supplied, and as excessivebycatch and threats toendangered sea turtles became associated with trawling for wild shrimp.[75] In 2007, the production of farmed shrimp exceeded the capture of wild shrimp.[70]
Although there are thousands of species of shrimp worldwide, only about 20 of these species are commercially significant. The following table contains the principal commercial shrimp, the seven most harvested species. All of them are decapods; most of them belong to theDendrobranchiata and four of them arepenaeid shrimp.
| Principal commercial shrimp species | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Common name | Scientific name | Description | Max length (mm) | Depth (m) | Habitat | FAO | WoRMS | 2010 production (thousand tonnes) | |||
| wild | farmed | total | ||||||||||
| Dendrobranchiata | Whiteleg shrimp | Litopenaeus vannamei(Boone, 1931) | The most extensively farmed species of shrimp. | 230 | 0–72 | marine, estuarine | [79][80] | [81] | 1 | 2721 | 2722 | |
| Giant tiger prawn | Penaeus monodonFabricius, 1798 | 336 | 0–110 | marine, estuarine | [82][83] | [84] | 210 | 782 | 992 | |||
| Akiami paste shrimp | Acetes japonicusKishinouye, 1905 | Most intensively fished species. They are small with black eyes and red spots on theuropods.[85] Only a small amount is sold fresh, most isdried, salted orfermented.[85] | 30 | shallow | marine | [86][87] | [88] | 574 | 574 | |||
| Southern rough shrimp | Trachysalambria curvirostris(Stimpson, 1860) | Easier to catch at night, and fished only in waters less than 60 m (200 ft) deep.[89] Most of the harvest is landed in China.[90] | 98 | 13–150 | marine | [91][92] | [93] | 294 | 294 | |||
| Fleshy prawn | Fenneropenaeus chinensis(Osbeck, 1765) | Trawled in Asia where it is sold frozen. Exported to Western Europe. Cultured by Japan and South Korea in ponds.[94] | 183 | 90–180 | marine | [94][95] | [96] | 108 | 45 | 153 | ||
| Banana prawn | Fenneropenaeus merguiensis(De Man, 1888) | Typically trawled in the wild and frozen, with most catches made by Indonesia. Commercially important in Australia, Pakistan and the Persian Gulf. Cultured in Indonesia and Thailand. In India it tends to be confused withFenneropenaeus indicus, so its economic status is unclear.[97] | 240 | 10–45 | marine, estuarine | [97][98] | [99] | 93 | 20 | 113 | ||
| Caridea | Northern prawn | Pandalus borealis(Krøyer, 1838) | Widely fished since the early 1900s in Norway, and later in other countries followingJohan Hjort's practical discoveries of how to locate them. They have a short life which contributes to a variable stock on a yearly basis. They are not considered overfished. | 165 | 20–1380 | marine | [100][101] | [102] | 361 | 361 | ||
| All other species | 1490 | 220 | 1710 | |||||||||
| Combined total | 3129 | 3788 | 6917 | |||||||||
Commercial techniques forcatching wild shrimp includeotter trawls,seines andshrimp baiting. A system of nets is used whentrawling.Baitedtraps are common in parts of thePacific Northwest.
Shrimp trawling can result in very highincidental catch rates of non-target species. In 1997, theFAO found discard rates up to 20 pounds for every pound of shrimp. The world average was 5.7 pounds for every pound of shrimp.[103]Trawl nets in general, and shrimp trawls in particular, have been identified as sources of mortality for species offinfish andcetaceans.[104] Bycatch is often discarded dead or dying by the time it is returned to the sea, and may alter the ecological balance in discarded regions.[105] Worldwide, shrimp trawl fisheries generate about 2% of the world's catch of fish in weight, but result in more than one third of the global bycatch total.
The most extensively fished species are theakiami paste shrimp, thenorthern prawn, thesouthern rough shrimp, and thegiant tiger prawn. Together these four species account for nearly half of the total wild capture. In recent years, the global capture of wild shrimp has been overtaken by the harvest from farmed shrimp.[70]
A shrimp farm is anaquaculture business for the cultivation of marine shrimp or prawns for human consumption. Commercial shrimp farming began in the 1970s, and production grew steeply, particularly to match the market demands of theUnited States,Japan andWestern Europe. The total global production of farmed shrimp reached more than 1.6 milliontonnes in 2003, representing a value of nearly 9 billionU.S. dollars. About 75% of farmed shrimp are produced inAsia, in particular inChina,Thailand,Indonesia,India andVietnam. The other 25% are produced mainly inLatin America, whereBrazil is the largest producer. By 2016, the largest exporting nation is India, followed by Ecuador, Thailand, Indonesia and China.[106]
As can be seen from the global production chart on the left, significant aquaculture production started slowly in the 1970s and then rapidly expanded during the 1980s. After a lull in growth during the 1990s, due to pathogens, production took off again and by 2007 exceeded the capture from wild fisheries. By 2010, the aquaculture harvest was 3.9 million tonnes, compared to 3.1 million tonnes for the capture of wild shrimp.[70]
In the earlier years of marine shrimp farming the preferred species was the largegiant tiger prawn. This species is reared in circular holding tanks where they think they are in the open ocean, and swim in "never ending migration" around the circumference of the tank.[107] In 2000, global production was 630,984 tonnes, compared to only 146,362 tonnes forwhiteleg shrimp. Subsequently, these positions reversed, and by 2010 the production of giant tiger prawn increased modestly to 781,581 tonnes while whiteleg shrimp rocketed nearly twenty-fold to 2,720,929 tonnes.[70] Thewhiteleg shrimp is currently the dominant species in shrimp farming. It is a moderately large shrimp reaching a total length of 230 mm (9"), and is particularly suited to farming because it "breeds well in captivity, can be stocked at small sizes, grows fast and at uniform rates, has comparatively low protein requirements... and adapts well to variable environmental conditions."[108] In China, prawns are cultured along withsea cucumbers and some fish species, inintegrated multi-trophic systems.
The major producer of farmed shrimp is China. Other significant producers are Thailand, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Ecuador and Bangladesh. Most farmed shrimp is exported to the United States, the European Union and Japan,[109] also other Asian markets, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.[106]
Investigations byThe Guardian in 2014 andThe Associated Press in 2015 foundhuman rights abuses on fishing boats operated by Thailand. The boats are manned withslaves, and catch shrimp and fish (including fish for the production offishmeal which is fed to farmed prawns).[110][111]Greenpeace has challenged the sustainability of tropical shrimp farming practices on the grounds that farming these species "has led to the destruction of vast areas ofmangroves in several countries [and] over-fishing of juvenile shrimp from the wild to supply farms." Greenpeace has placed a number of the prominent tropical shrimp species that are farmed commercially on its seafood red list, including thewhiteleg shrimp,Indian prawn andgiant tiger shrimp.[112]
There is also evidence that shrimps, like other crustaceans,can feel pain. Common welfare concerns include water pollution, high population densities, and the spread of diseases. Additionally, many female shrimpshave their eyes cut without anesthetic in order to induce maturation of the ovaries.[113]
Shrimp aremarketed and commercialized with several issues in mind. Most shrimp are sold frozen and marketed based on their categorization of presentation, grading, colour, and uniformity.[114] Shrimp have high levels ofomega-3 fatty acids and low levels ofmercury.[115] Usually shrimp is sold whole, though sometimes only themeat of shrimp is marketed.
As with other seafood, shrimp is high incalcium,iodine andprotein but low infood energy. A shrimp-based meal is also a significant source ofcholesterol, from 122 mg to 251 mg per 100 g of shrimp, depending on the method of preparation.[116] Shrimp consumption, however, is considered healthy for the circulatory system because the lack of significant levels of saturated fat in shrimp means that the high cholesterol content in shrimp improves the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol and lowerstriglycerides.[117]
Ebiko - shrimproe, sometimes translated as "shrimp flakes" - is used as one of the ingredients in the preparation ofsushi.[118]
Shrimp and othershellfish are among the most commonfood allergens.[119] They are notkosher and thus are forbidden inJewish cuisine.
Since the early 2020s,plant-based andcultured alternatives to shrimps have emerged and have been rapidly improving.[113]
Several types of shrimp are kept in homeaquaria. Some are purely ornamental, while others are useful in controlling algae and removing debris.[120] Freshwater shrimp commonly available for aquaria include theBamboo shrimp,Japanese marsh shrimp (Caridina multidentata, also called "Amano shrimp," as their use in aquaria was pioneered byTakashi Amano),cherry shrimp (Neocaridina heteropoda), and ghost or glass shrimp (Palaemonetes spp.). Popular saltwater shrimp include the cleaner shrimpLysmata amboinensis, the fire shrimp (Lysmata debelius) and the harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta).
| Freshwater aquaria variant shrimp come in many colours |
|---|
 TheCaridina cantonensis snow white shrimp is a white freshwater shrimp.  The "Neocaridina heteropoda var.red" cherry shrimp is particularly easy to keep and breed.  The "Neocaridina zhanghjiajiensis var.blue" pearl shrimp is closely related to thecherry shrimp.  TheCaridina cantonensis tiger shrimp is transparent with black stripes.  TheCaridina cantonensis red tiger shrimp is transparent with red stripes and is found in southern China.  The popularCaridina cantonensis crystal red bee shrimp has broad red and white stripes. |
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