One of the main species sustaining the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico is the brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus (Latoumerie, 2007). Due to its great importance in the market, the present research focused on this species, with the objective of collecting scientific information that would help to establish whether this species is suitable for farming. The study centered on measuring the effect of different feed rates on productive variables (weight gain, weekly weight gain, weekly length gain, survival, final weight, biomass, feed management, and feed conversion rate) over a period of eight weeks. The experiment comprised three treatments (each conducted with three repetitions): Treatment 1 (the control), which was conducted with a feed rate of 9%; Treatment 2, which was conducted with a 3% feed rate; and Treatment 3, which was conducted with a 6% feed rate. The feed rate percentages for the three treatments were calculated based on the biomass of the sample. The water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, pH, and nitrogenated compounds) were observed to remain at similar levels. The present study concludes that the control treatment T1 (9%) yielded the best weight gain, weekly weight gain, weekly length gain, and final weight results, while T3 (6%) presented the best final biomass and weight gain results. However, taking into account the minor differences among the results obtained for groups T1 and T3, further to the higher percentage of feed administered and the survival rate observed, it can be concluded that T3 (6% feed rate) performed the best of the two treatments applied by the present study, due to the fact that it was much more cost effective and produced the highest yield.

The marine catfish Genidens barbus is a benthic and anadromous species distributed from Brazil to southern Argentina. Its presence during the non-reproductive period remains poorly documented. This study reported the first confirmed record of a female G. barbus outside the reproductive season, which was incidentally caught in the artisanal Argentine red shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) fishery off the coast of Río Negro, Argentina (41° 05′ S-64° 03′ W) at a depth of 70 m. This finding provides novel evidence for the Patagonian population, suggesting that the species may occupy deeper marine habitats during non-reproductive periods. The presence of P. muelleri in the stomach content reinforces its benthophagous feeding habit and trophic association with the coastal benthic community. This record expands the current knowledge of the seasonal and ecological distribution of G. barbus, as well as conservation strategies. Given its status as a vulnerable species and the limited information available on its behavior outside estuaries, this finding makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Patagonian ichthyofauna and the sustainable management of its populations.

Disentangling Two Decades of Inefficiency and Dynamics in German Brown Shrimp Fishery

ABSTRACT On the Northern Coast of Brazil, the low-selectivity nets used in trawl fishing the southern brown shrimp Penaeus subtilis also capture a large amount of bycatch fauna, causing great environmental impact. This work investigates the efficiency of a square mesh panel in mitigating the effects in terms of the incidental capture of decapod crustaceans in the Amazonian Continental Shelf (ACS). The bycatch of 34 trawls (17 with the control net and 17 using the net with the bycatch reduction device, (BRD)) was analysed conducted at different latitudes along the ACS. A total of 1480 decapods were counted (1069 in the control net and 411 in the net with the BRD), corresponding to 12 families, 33 species, and an unidentified group of penaeid shrimps. The BRD was efficient for most species, especially smaller ones since it effectively excluded species such as Anasimus latus and Persephona punctata. The square mesh panel did not efficiently exclude all species of decapod crustaceans; thus, we suggest further experiments to test other devices to minimise bycatch, in addition to other management measures to contain the impacts caused by trawling, especially because it occurs close to the mesophotic reefs of the Amazon.

Abstract Marine biodiversity is significantly impacted by bottom-trawling fisheries, which generate substantial bycatch. Bycatch species are often discarded, unreported, and undocumented, hindering conservation and management efforts. Quantifying bycatch volumes and characterizing the biological traits of bycatch species remain challenging yet critical for sustainable fisheries management. This study aimed to (1) describe spatiotemporal patterns of bycatch in El Salvador’s shrimp bottom-trawl fisheries and (2) estimate length-weight relationships (LWRs) for fish bycatch species. A total of 428 trawls were conducted at depths of 20 to 100 m across four marine zones between April and November. Bycatch was categorized as either traditional (all non-target species) or flexible (species with no commercial value). Species vulnerability was assessed using CITES, IUCN, and Fishing Vulnerability Index classifications. Bycatch accounted for 22–100% of total catch per trawl, averaging ~ 93%. Bathymetric differences were significant, with the highest bycatch volumes in shallow waters (230 ± 24 kg/h at 20 m) declining to 32 ± 8 kg/h at 80 m. Temporally, bycatch peaked in April (140 ± 27 kg/h) and reached its lowest levels in October (82 ± 22 kg/h). There were no significant spatial differences observed among the four fishing zones, and trends were consistent across both bycatch classifications. Bottom trawling in shrimp fisheries affected at least 14 bycatch species listed under IUCN threat categories and 58 species with moderate to very high fishing vulnerability. Length-weight measurements were taken from 16,384 specimens representing 138 fish bycatch species. Strong length-weight correlations ( r > 0.8) were found for 107 species, and LWRs were newly documented for 62 species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific.

This study aims to inform sustainable fisheries management strategies by evaluating the contribution of beam trawl fisheries, mainly targeting deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris), to bycatch in the Sea of Marmara (SoM). Field studies were conducted between May 2022 and April 2023 in collaboration with local fishers operating in shrimp fishing areas in southern SoM. The study encompassed 120 beam trawl surveys covering 8.88 km² across randomly selected stations. Biomass and catch per unit effort were analyzed to quantify catch composition and bycatch levels. Over the study period, 3,925 kg of marine organisms representing diverse species were collected, with the target species, deep-water rose shrimp, comprising only 24.6% of the retained catch. The remaining catch consisted of bycatch, including commercial and non-commercial species, as well as incidentally catching sensitive taxa. Through field-based assessments, this study highlights the inadequacy of current mitigation efforts to address the destructive nature of beam trawl fishery in the SoM. Despite gear modification efforts to date to increase selectivity and reduce bycatch, no intervention has been entirely successful in eliminating the ecological footprint. Data-driven insights argue for new management strategies, prioritizing alternative solutions and ecosystem-based fisheries management.

ABSTRACT When San Francisco’s Chinese fishermen were banned from their trade by law in the early 1860s, they developed a shrimp fishery and exported dried shrimp throughout the West and to China, in an increasingly profitable business. Fresh shrimp were unknown in most of American at this time, but Chinese fishermen diverted larger bay shrimp to the market and they soon became a local favorite and expression of San Francisco identity. Nevertheless, Chinese shrimpers were depicted as interloping aliens, who threatened the supply of fish by allegedly entrapping and killing juveniles in their fine-meshed nets. This dichotomy endured for decades until the demise of the shrimp industry was immanent, and Anglo San Francisco reconciled its image of lost bay shrimp with nostalgic views of the Chinese men who harvested them.

Climate change is playing a significant role in agriculture. As an agriculturally efficient country like Bangladesh, smart farming is needed to effectively help farmers adapt to this climate change. The main objective of this IOT based project is to increase efficiency, especially in mushroom farming and shrimp fishing. In both cases, smart farming requires real-time weather information from farmers. This system enables farmers to monitor temperature, humidity, water level at any moment from anywhere in the world using their smartphones. This system focuses on local farmers in different districts of Bangladesh, where they are able to monitor the weather for their decision-making and optimize the concept of real-time scheduling for specific food crops. Local rice farmers who are using real-time weather monitoring systems can know the exact moment of their rains, which helps them determine the time to harvest their mature rice. This approach will open up a new avenue for our local farmers through which they can increase their capacity through mushroom cultivation and shrimp farming more than before, which will help boost the economy of a country like Bangladesh a lot.

Health-related dimensions of fishers for sustainable commercial fisheries in the Atlantic Gulf of Guinea: Ecological and social assessments.

The present study analyzed the growth pattern of the stingray Urotrygon chilensis caught as bycatch by the shrimp fishery in the southeastern Mexican Pacific. From January to December 2012, the thoracic vertebrae of 491 females and 205 males were collected. Female ages ranged from 0 to 14 years, whereas male ages ranged from 0 to 12 years. The marginal increment and edge analyses suggested the annual formation of growth bands in the vertebrae. The size-at-age data were analyzed using the multimodel inference approach; six candidate growth models were compared, including models with a theoretical age-at-zero total length, mean size-at-birth, and generalized models. Based on Akaike’s information criterion, the best statistical fit to the size-at-age data was the two-phase Gompertz growth model (k = −0.13, G = 1.59, L0 = 10.40) for males and the two-parameter Gompertz growth model (k = 1.42, α = 0.15, L0 = 10.90) for females. In this study, we compare the growth parameters among batoid species, finding that U. chilensis has a relatively short lifespan, slower growth, and that females are larger than males.

A new species of volute, Cymbiola distructa n. sp., has been collected by the Arafura Sea Prawn Fishery, northern Australia. This species can be distinguished from others in Cymbiola by its larger size, angled spire, and the outer lip form. C. distructa lacks the posteriorly inwardly recurving lobe often associated with the outer lip in adults of Cymbiola cymbiola (Gmelin, 1791) its morphologically close sister taxa. As collections as of long time citizen scientists are opened to taxonomists, many new Australian deep-water species become available for study.

PAHs in sediments and shrimps: Levels, sources, and risk estimation in a tropical coastal lagoon system near oil industry.

The study explored the fishery, growth, and reproductive biology of the green tiger shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus, in Iraqi marine waters of the northwest Arabian Gulf from November 2022 to October 2023. Monthly shrimp landings varied significantly, ranging from a low of 57 tons in December 2022 to a high of 407 tons in September 2023, totaling 3,515 tons over the entire year. During this period, 2,394 specimens of P. semisulcatus were sampled, measuring between 10.0 and 25.0 cm in length. The length-weight relationship revealed that male P. semisulcatus exhibited isometric growth, while females showed positive allometric growth. The average condition factor for males was 1.01 ± 0.061, while females had an average of 1.03 ± 0.090, indicating good health for both sexes. The species' growth model was represented by the formula Lt= 28.7 (1-exp(-0.45(t+0.326))). The overall sex ratio was found to be 1:1.06 (male to female). The length at which 50% of the population reaches maturity (Lm50) was determined to be 8.4 cm. The gonado-somatic index (GSI) values for females varied from 2.11% in October to 8.95% in March. These results can contribute to providing information for species management in the study region.

This study addresses two environmental issues: the fate of fisheries organic wastes and the marine biofouling control. Marine biofouling continues to pose a significant environmental and economic burden, with existing solutions often being environmentally toxic or prohibitively expensive. Natural products, such as enzymes, have emerged as promising alternatives. Shrimp processing wastes are usually dumped to the environment, although they constitute an important source of marine enzymes. In this context, the present study investigates the potential of enzymatic extract derived from shrimp processing waste as an antifouling agent. We focused on the performance and stability of proteolytic enzymes within the extract under various conditions: exposure to seawater (static and dynamic) over time, and resistance to organic solvents. Additionally, we explored field trials using antifouling paints formulated with shrimp extract and we investigated a versatile and simple technology for extract immobilization. The results demonstrate that proteolytic activity in the shrimp extract remained stable over time in seawater and when exposed to organic solvents. Paints containing this extract completely inhibited macrofouling attachment for 7 months. Interestingly, control panels with deactivated enzymes exhibited macroalgae colonization but also showed reduced macroinvertebrate attachment. This suggests that additional compounds within the extract may have antifouling properties. We successfully produced nanocapsules of alginate-chitosan containing the shrimp extract using electrohydrodynamic atomization. While these nanocapsules show promise, further optimization is required. Overall, this study presents encouraging findings for the use of shrimp waste extract in antifouling paint formulations. This approach offers a potentially low-cost and environmentally friendly solution to the biofouling problem.

Institutions are critical components of fisheries governance, playing a significant role in its operation and effectiveness. While various institutions facilitate the functioning of the fisheries sector, their role is particularly critical in the small-scale fisheries subsector, which faces greater threats from anthropogenic pressures such as high resource exploitation and increasing fishing pressure. This study evaluates the institutional frameworks governing lobster and giant freshwater prawn fisheries to identify gaps and propose innovative interventions based on Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) guidelines. Primary data were collected from both industries through stakeholder meetings with experts, key informant interviews with exporters, and interviewer-administered questionnaires with fishers. The analysis revealed that the institutional framework involves local and central government bodies, NGOs, and community organizations, tasked with access provision, regulation, risk reduction, operational structuring, and resource conservation. However, significant gaps were identified, including outdated legislative frameworks, limited research and development efforts, time and financial constraints, insufficient export promotion programs, and weak institutional linkages. To address these issues, the study recommends institutional innovations such as strengthened government-private partnerships and community-based co-management approaches. These strategies can enhance governance and sustainability in Sri Lanka’s lobster and giant freshwater prawn fisheries, ensuring their alignment with global trends and contributing to long-term resource conservation and economic resilience.

Sustainability Challenges of Traditional Shrimp Fishing in İskenderun Bay in the Face of Rising Imports and Economic Pressures

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) has been widely used to assess species’ vulnerability to the impacts of fishing and then to prioritize any additional management actions to reduce impacts. The Ecological Risk Assessment for the Effects of the Fishing framework is based on a hierarchy of qualitative and semi-quantitative tools that work well in data-deficient situations. This study first used the Scale Intensity and Consequence (SICA) and Productive and Susceptibility Analyses (PSA) tools to evaluate the impacts of the industrial bottom trawl of southern brown shrimp on the Amazon Continental shelf in Northern Brazil. A total of 540 species were identified as having direct or indirect interaction with the trawls. The SICA identified that the main risk was related to fishing capture activities, potentially impacting the species’ population size. Of the 47 species evaluated in the PSA, 12 displayed low vulnerability, 23 displayed moderate vulnerability, and 12 displayed high vulnerability to the impacts of fishing. Future fisheries management should focus on reducing species vulnerability by prioritizing data collection for the most at-risk species. Also, fishing gear modification, such as bycatch exclusion devices (BRDs), should be employed to decrease the species’ vulnerability.

No evidence that the Atlantic jackknife clam Ensis leei benefits from shrimp fisheries

Climate effect on the seasonal gonad maturity of three commercial penaeid shrimp species in the Gulf of California

Shrimp farming has expanded over coastal areas in Mexico, particularly in the protected regions of Sonora and Sinaloa. Over the past 30 years, the economic activity associated with these farms has grown so much that the amount of shrimp produced in these ponds now exceeds that harvested from traditional shrimp fisheries. Establishing shrimp ponds has led to significant land changes. The construction of these ponds has fragmented local ecosystems, resulting in permanent alterations to areas such as floodplains, mangrove forests, and dunes, many of which are protected zones. This study aimed to investigate the long-term growth of shrimp farms from 1993 to 2022 and their impact on land-use changes in surrounding ecosystems, focusing on protected areas in the Sinaloa and Sonora coastal regions. We analyzed Landsat images using the Google Earth Engine platform. Our findings indicate that shrimp farm development over the past three decades has been extensive, with protected areas experiencing fragmentation and changes. Remote sensing and platforms like Google Earth Engine enable the effective monitoring of these spatiotemporal changes and their impacts, helping to identify the most affected areas.