Penaeid Shrimp Aquaculture

Aquaculture supplies about 60% of the current market demand for shrimp. The entire increase for future demands must come from aquaculture since the capture from natural waters is not expected to increase. Shrimp aquaculture is conducted in many tropical and subtropical countries, but six countries—China, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Ecuador, and Thailand—produce about 85% of cultured shrimp. Shrimp aquaculture relies on penaeid shrimp species, and two species, Litopenaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon, account for most of the production. Shrimp aquaculture had an annual value of USD23.6 billion in 2014, making it a major item in international trade. Shrimp are produced almost exclusively in coastal ponds filled with estuarine or seawater. Small shrimp for stocking in ponds are produced in hatcheries mostly from farm-reared broodstock. Production intensity in ponds ranged from 200 to 500 kg/ha/crop in fertilized ponds to 5,000–10,000 kg/ha/crop in ponds with feeding and mechanical aeration. Up to three crops per year may be produced depending upon the location, species, and culture method. Shrimp culture can be seriously affected by viral diseases, and new diseases have been a constant threat to production success. The future of shrimp aquaculture is bright, but for it to reach its full potential, improved broodstock, high health, specific pathogen-free shrimp for stocking, better biosecurity for prevention of disease epidemics, better pond management practices, and more attention to avoiding negative environmental impacts will be necessary.