The dov:i",vjard trend in exports of frozen and fri::3h shrimp, 

 siiicc lyS'Gj i'i pi'obably of ccnsideroble biological significance. It 

 is caused by a decrease in production from llexico'a \jest coast. It 

 has occurred in spite of evpansion of fishing grounds and increase 

 in catches of less desirable species. Particularly significant is 

 the decline in the catch of the highly prised blue shrimp of the west 

 coast, v.'hich has been considerably greater than the decline shoim in 

 the total catch figures. Total shrimp production has been maintained 

 by increasingly greater catches of bro-wn and red shrijup which have 

 partially compensated for the decline in blue shrimp. 



If the decline in blue shrimp is the result of over-fishing, 

 thifi could be rectified by proper mana^rement, but sound management 

 principles have not as yet been applied to the shrimp fisheries. If 

 the decline is the result of natural fluctuation, unrelated to the 

 acts of man, the catch of blue shrimp could return to its peak at any 

 time . 



There is always the possibility that restrictions will be 

 placed on the weir "tape" fishing of young white shrimp in the estuaries 

 of southern Sinaloa and Nayarit States, rtestrictions on weir fishing 

 would tend to increase production of frozen shrimp. The small shrimp 

 taken in the weirs are destined for local consumption in either the 

 canned or dried state; it is not likely, therefore, that all of the weirs 

 would be removed. It is also impossible to guess how much of an increase 

 in the catch of shrimp, suitable for freezing, would result from elimina- 

 tion of the weirs. Undoubtedly, however, there would be an increase. 



Production of red shrimp, in spite of the abundance of the 

 species, is least likely to expand. The concentrations of red shrimp 

 are in depths much greater than those now fished by the trawl ileet. 

 Because of their small size many of these shrimp taken in shallower 

 viaters are now discarded by the fishennen. It is improbable that the 

 catch of red shrimp will increase much because of their smaJ-l size , 

 because of the loijer price paid for them, and because, if fishing is 

 to be extended to the depths at which they abound, winch capacities 

 would have to be increased. 



The catch of brovjn shrimp on the west coast of Mexico has 

 been increasing since 1930, and it is probable that it will continue 

 to rise. 



86 



