Shrimp feed on animals low in the food chain, such as polychaete worms 

 and larval mollusks, and a large part of their fDod consists of 

 diatoms and other plants at the first trophic level. Hence, they 

 are important converters of energy. 



The value of the estuaries to the pink and other conmercial shrimp 

 is great and is both direct and indirect. (B.W.) 



Keywords: estuaries, shrimp, nursery areas 



IV-E-3 



Moffett, A.W. 1967. The shrimp fishery in Texas. Texas Parks and 

 Wildlife Department Bulletin 50. 36 pp. 



This bulletin indicates that the life histories of all Texas commercial 

 shrimps are similar. In general, the young, hatched in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, are carried by on-shore water movements to the shallow estuaries 

 and coastal lagoons, where they feed, grow rapidly and ultimately 

 return to the Gulf spawning grounds. 



The shallow estuaries provide the nursery grounds for the post- 

 larval stages. During this phase of the growth cycle, the shrimp abandon 

 their planktonic way of life and become bottom dwellers. Post-larval 

 and large shrimp are omnivorous bottom-feeders that consume principally 

 algae, small mollusks, marine worms and small crustaceans. (L.H.) 



Keywords: shrimp, life cycles, estuaries, food habits, Texas 



IV-E-4 



Barrett, B.B., and E.J. Ralph. 1976. Environmental conditions relative 



to shrimp production in coastal Louisiana. Louisiana Wildlife and 



Fisheries Commission Technical Bulletin 21. 20 pp. 



The publication discusses environmental factors that encourage 

 a good brown shrimp harvest: mild water temperatures, low rainfall 

 and river discharge, and high salinities (10 ppt and above) resulting 

 from low freshwater input into estuaries. Low rainfall and river 

 discharges throughout the summer result in above average white shrimp 

 production also. Data are presented for combined good catch years and 

 poor catch years, and for 1975 and 1976. (B.W.) 



Keywords: shrimp production, brown shrimp, Louisiana 



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