Shrimp: Farmed (White)

Pacific White Shrimp, West Coast White Shrimp

Ebi

With worldwide shrimp fisheries at or near maximum sustainable yield, any growth in shrimp production must come from farm-raised shrimp. Many nations are turning to farm-raised shrimp as an attractive source of international trade revenue. The vast majority of farmed shrimp is white shrimp and comes from tropical nations, including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Ecuador, China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Shrimp farming has had an adverse effect on coastal habitat, water quality and local village economies.

Farmed freshwater and white shrimp raised on farms using closed systems or inland ponds from the United States are a more sustainable option have recently been identified as a “Best Choice”.

While much of the shrimp sold in North America continues to come from Asian countries, it is expected that more sustainable shrimp farmed in the US will become increasingly prevalent in the marketplace.

In the U.S., producers are currently working with feed manufacturers to decrease the amount of fish required in the feed formulas for shrimp by using plant proteins. Currently, it takes approximately 1.35 kg of wild fish to produce 1 kg of farmed shrimp. This ratio is a moderate conservation concern. It should be noted however that US producers are working with feed manufacturers to decrease the amount of fish required in the feed formulas for shrimp by using plant based proteins.

Inland farms and aquaculture operations (regardless of location) using zero-exchange recirculating systems pose little or no threat to adjacent environments resulting from escapes and rank as a “low” risk.

Risks to wild stocks vary directly with production method. There is no risk from zero exchange and covered farms, and only a low risk from inland, contained ponds. Overall, this is a low conservation concern.

Excellent effluent management associated with zero-exchange recirculating systems and with inland operations that infrequently release partially treated effluent, or recycle it for land based agricultural applications, collectively result in a rank of “low” risk for pollution and habitat effects.

Regulations regarding site development, effluent release, biological security, drug and chemical use along with all other major aspects of operations are in place and enforced at federal, state and local levels. US shrimp aquaculture management is ranked highly effective.

Is this wild or farmed shrimp?

What kind of shrimp is this?

US farmed shrimp is a better choice.

No.