APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
SHRIMP 
Shrimp is the most valuable fishery in the United 
States. Landings of 343.6 million pounds in 1975 were 
worth $226.2 million to fishermen. In 1975, the United 
States imported 201.5 million pounds of shrimp products 
worth $346.2 million. In the same year, domestic exports 
amounted to 34.3 million pounds worth $64.3 million. 
Viability of the fishery is threatened by stock deple- 
tion in some areas, inadequate management data, environ- 
mental deterioration, and excess harvesting capacity. On 
the other hand, the development of underutilized species, 
Management program improvements, cost reductions, and 
limited entry into the harvesting segment of the fishery 
provide opportunities to improve the U.S. shrimp fishery. 
STATUS OF THE FISHERY 
Current harvest 
In 1975, Alaska led the Nation in volume of shrimp 
caught; however, Texas was the leading State in value, with 
landings worth $87.9 million. 
The Gulf States in 1975 accounted for 79 percent of 
the value of the shrimp harvest by landing 49 percent of 
the total U.S. catch. Although Pacific coast landings have 
increased, the value of Gulf shrimp landings continues to 
exceed the value of landings from all other regions. His- 
torically, the Gulf has provided over 76 percent of the 
landed value of U.S. shrimp. 
Gulf of Mexico 
In the Gulf fishery, only three species of the family 
Penaeidae are caught in large numbers--the brown shrimp, 
the white shrimp, and the pink shrimp. Also fished are the 
seabob and the royal red shrimp. These shrimp are caught 
off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Alabama, 
Mississippi, and Mexico. Most Penaeid shrimp are caught in 
depths of 50 fathoms or less and their life history is tied 
to estuaries. Panaeids spawn off shore and probably do 
not live much more than two years; the average life span is 
thought to be about 18 months. The fertilized eggs develop 
rapidly into larvae and juveniles that are carried by cur- 
rents shoreward into extensive shallow estuaries where the 
shrimp grow rapidly for 2 or 3 months. As they near matur- 
ity, they leave these grounds and return offshore to complete 
the life cycle. Gulf shrimp are considered to be an annual 
Crop. 
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