Shrimp Research Articles

DNA Barcoding of Penaeidae (Decapoda; Crustacea): Non-Distance-Based Species Delimitation of the Most Economically Important Shrimp Family

The Penaeidae family includes some of the most economic and ecological important marine shrimp, comprising hundreds of species. Despite this importance and diversity, the taxonomic classification for penaeid shrimp has constantly been revised, and issues related to the species identification are common. In this study, we implemented DNA barcoding analyses in addition to single-gene species delimitation analyses in order to identify molecular operational taxonomy units (MOTUs) and to generate robust molecular information for penaeid shrimp based on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene. Our final data set includes COI sequences from 112 taxa distributed in 23 genera of penaeids. We employed the general mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) model, the Poisson tree processes (PTP), and the Bayesian PTP model (bPTP) for MOTUs delimitation. Intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances were also calculated. Our findings evidenced a high level of hidden diversity, showing 143 MOTUs, with 27 nominal species not agreeing with the genetic delimitation obtained here. These data represent potential new species or highly structured populations, showing the importance of including a non-distance-based species delimitation approach in biodiversity studies. The results raised by this study shed light on the Penaeidae biodiversity, addressing important issues about taxonomy and mislabeling in databases and contributing to a better comprehension of the group, which can certainly help management policies for shrimp fishery activity in addition to conservation programs.

Ecological risk assessment of elasmobranchs caught in the Gulf of Papua prawn fishery

Abstract One‐third of all elasmobranch species currently known to occur in Papua New Guinea are taken as bycatch in the Gulf of Papua trawl fishery. An ecological risk assessment was conducted on the 16 species of sharks and 23 species of rays caught by the fishery. Eight species were classified to be at low risk, 28 species were at medium risk while three species – Rhynchobatus palpebratus (eyebrow wedgefish), Carcharhinus coatesi (Australian blackspot shark) and Maculabatis astra (blackspotted whipray), all endemic to New Guinea and northern Australia – faced the highest level of risk from the fishery at current fishing levels. There is potential for more vessels to enter the fishery in future, which is likely to elevate the risk for a greater proportion of elasmobranch species. Ongoing monitoring of bycatch levels, supported by biological and ecological studies on frequently caught species, is required to assess and manage risk in the future. The development and use of trawl excluder devices or bycatch reduction devices in this fishery have the potential to reduce bycatch levels and reduce risk levels.

Sex-specific spatial use of the winter foraging areas by Magellanic penguins and assessment of potential conflicts with fisheries during winter dispersal.

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) disperse widely during winter and are a major consumer of marine resources over the Patagonian Shelf. Magellanic penguins were equipped with geolocators at Martillo Island in late February- early March 2017 and recaptured at the beginning of the next breeding season to recover the devices and to collect blood samples for stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis. We evaluated their whole winter dispersal and their trophic niche by sex during the last month of the winter dispersal. Also, we evaluated their spatial overlap with bottom trawl and shrimp fisheries using data from satellite fisheries monitoring. Penguins dispersed northwards up to 42°S and showed latitudinal spatial segregation between sexes during May to August (females were located further north than males). In contrast, during the last month of the winter dispersal females were located more southerly and showed lower trophic position than males. Also, females did not dive as deep as males during winter. We found high overlap between both fisheries and penguin’s spatial use in regions with documented interaction. However, no sex-specific statistical differences with fisheries overlap were found. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the spatial domains of each sex and assessment of their potential conflicts with bottom trawl fishery and shrimp fishery during the winter period.

Efficiency vs resilience: The rise and fall of the German brown shrimp fishery in times of COVID 19

In times of world crisis such as climate change and the COVID pandemic much has been said about the need for resilience. However, in scenarios of less concern about crisis the leading paradigm is often that of efficiency. The current study shows how efficiency might have got on the way of achieving the necessary resilience to face the COVID 19. With the example of the German brown shrimp fishery in the North Sea the interaction between those two paradigms – efficiency and resilience – is shown in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. For instance, the quest of efficiency for rationalisation may reduce the resources available to set aside buffers to resist shocks, and the standardisation key to efficiency may also hinder more diversity and hence open innovation for solutions to the crisis, all characteristics of resilient organisations. By making use of a literature review including peer reviewed, grey literature and web media as well as of interviews with experts and quantitative data the value chain of the German brown shrimp fishery is analysed under the conceptual framework of organisational resilience. Resultsshow that, despite being more oriented towards efficiency, the German fleets does not show particularly good results in selected efficiency indicators. Additionally, key stages of the value chain as processing and commercialisation together with the investment strategy fail to present some commonly accepted components of resilient organisations, such as redundancy, flexibility, adaptability, diversity, prudence and embeddedness. Despite developments in the direction of sustainability with the MSC certification, the German fleet should pay attention to its capacity to face disturbances, which should be supported by a more long-term, targeted, resilience-oriented policy support.

Evaluation of caridean ecological distribution in the Ubatuba region, southeastern Brazilian coast using unsupervised machine learning technique

AbstractWe used the unsupervised machine learning technique to evaluate the environmental factors responsible for modulating the spatial and seasonal distribution of caridean shrimps from a southeastern region of the Brazilian coast. Samplings were collected from seven transects with an artisanal shrimp fishery boat with two double‐rig nets. Samplings occurred every month from October 2008 to September 2009. The most frequently captured species were Exhippolysmata oplophoroides, Leander paulensis, and Nematopalaemon schmitti. The highest abundance of shrimps occurred in autumn at the II, III, and V transects, which present a higher amount of coarse sediment and biodetritic fragments on the bottom. During autumn, the temperatures were the highest and salinity values were the lowest. Data evaluation indicated efficiency in the visualization of interactions of different shrimp species and environmental data. This kind of sediment may be allowing shrimps to burrow in shelters that prevent predation. The seasons with high temperatures and low salinities can offer better conditions for the establishment of the studied species, despite the fact that there is no hypothesis to prove it. Additionally, the higher abundance of such shrimps coincides with vegetal debris deposition, which could serve as food and provide protection for these shrimps. In this region, the vegetation matter deposited at the bottom of the bay comes from the Atlantic Forest. Overall, the preservation of the coastal forest strongly influences the abundance of this taxon, as it provides protection and food for these shrimps.

A switch in species dominance of a recovering pelagic ecosystem

Although many marine ecosystems have been adversely impacted by human activities,1 some are now recovering due to reductions in fishing pressure.2-4 Here, we document the recovery of an ecosystem subjected to intense anthropogenic activity for over 200 years, the Clyde Sea.5 This region once had productive fisheries for herring (Clupea harengus) and other fish, but these disappeared at the turn of the century.6,7 Using acoustic surveys of the pelagic ecosystem, we found that the Clyde Sea supports 100 times as many forage fish as in the late 1980s. However, herring has now been replaced by sprat (Sprattus sprattus), despite virtually no fishing on herring for 20 years. A combination of a warming sea,6 bycatch of herring in the prawn (Nephrops norvegicus) fishery,8,9 and susceptibility of herring to poor recruitment may have contributed to this unexpected recovery. We compare this to similar unexpected "recoveries" involving unforeseen ecosystem effects, such as the return of hake (Merluccius merluccius) to the North Sea;10,11 the recent expansion of the pelagic squat lobster, "munida," (Pleuroncodes monodon) off Peru;12 and the increase in scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) numbers on Georges Bank.13 The lack of a current sprat fishery in the Clyde presents a unique opportunity to develop an alternative industry for its seafaring community: ecotourism. Charismatic megafauna (whales, dolphins, and seabirds) that people will pay to see14 will, in time-if not already15,16-be drawn in by the abundance of forage fish now present, further restoring the biodiversity of the region after centuries of overexploitation.

IMPLEMENTATION PROSPECTS FOR TRACEABILITY OF SHRIMP FISHERIES IN CILACAP OCEANIC FISHING PORT

Cilacap is one of the shrimp exporter areas in Indonesia. The exported shrimp from this area is mostly dominated by aquaculture and capture fisheries. The prospect of shrimp catch traceability has not been applied because it is still complicated in term of information about the fishing ground of shrimp and shrimp catch data from supplier and lack of governance. Shrimp fisheries in Cilacap are dominated by small-scale fisheries that usually have not been certified and may be affected by international commerce. Based on that explanation, it is important to conduct a study about shrimp traceability readiness in Cilacap. A purposive sampling and accidental sampling method were used in this research, accompanied by descriptive content analysis. The result shows that the readiness of Cilacap shrimp fisheries is still in the stage of concept preparation. The standard value of handling and processing shrimp according to Indonesian National Standard. Facilities that support the traceability system function properly. Enumeration intervention may be used to support a proper small-scale fisheries traceability in Cilacap.

Population Genomics of the Commercially Important Gulf of Mexico Pink Shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum (Burkenroad, 1939) Support Models of Juvenile Transport Around the Florida Peninsula

The Gulf of Mexico pink shrimp, Farfantepenaeus duorarum, supports large fisheries in the United States and Mexico, with nearly 7,000 tons harvested from the region in 2016. Given the commercial importance of this species, management is critical: in 1997, the southern Gulf of Mexico pink shrimp fishery was declared collapsed and mitigation strategies went into effect, with recovery efforts lasting over a decade. Fisheries management can be informed and improved through a better understanding of how factors associated with early life history impact genetic diversity and population structure in the recruited population. Farfantepenaeus duorarum are short-lived, but highly fecund, and display high variability in recruitment patterns. To date, modeling the impacts of ecological, physical, and behavioral factors on juvenile settlement has focused on recruitment of larval individuals of F. duorarum to nursery grounds in Florida Bay. Here, we articulate testable hypotheses stemming from a recent model of larval transport and evaluate support for each with a population genomics approach, generating reduced representation library sequencing data for F. duorarum collected from seven regions around the Florida Peninsula. Our research represents the first and most molecular data-rich study of population structure in F. duorarum in the Gulf and reveals evidence of a differentiated population in the Dry Tortugas. Our approach largely validates a model of larval transport, allowing us to make management-informative inferences about the impacts of spawning location and recruitment patterns on intraspecific genetic diversity. Such inferences improve our understanding of the roles of non-genetic factors in generating and maintaining genetic diversity in a commercially important penaeid shrimp species.

Reducing catch efficiency of rabbitfish (Siganus oramin) in a shrimp beam trawl fishery of the South China Sea

The bycatch of unwanted fish species is a main concern in shrimp beam trawl fishery of the South China Sea. This study evaluated the effect of using combined square-mesh and diamond-mesh codends (CSDM codends) on catch efficiency of a shrimp trawl fishery with the catch comparison and catch ratio approach. The trouser trawl method was applied using the commercial 22-mm diamond mesh codend (D22) as the baseline. The target species, greasyback shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis), and main fish bycatch rabbitfish (Siganus oramin) were chosen as the referred species. The results demonstrated that there was no significant change for the target species but a significant reduction on the unwanted fish bycatch when the CSDM codends were used. Compared with the D22 codend, the CSDM codends would reduce the catch efficiency of greasyback shrimp by less than 18% on average, and the reduction was not statistically significant; whereas catch efficiency of rabbitfish would be significantly reduced by more than 45% and the reduction was length-dependent. The results also showed that the catch efficiency of fish bycatch would reduce as the mesh sizes of the diamond-section of the tested codends increased. These promising results demonstrate that the CSDM codends have a potential to be applied to fishery management for mitigating fish bycatch in the shrimp fishery of the studied area.

Decapod crustaceans associated with the shrimp fishery of the central-south portion of Veracruz, Mexico

The objective of this study was to analyze the brachyuran crab assemblages associated with shrimp fishing on the central-southern coast of Veracruz. Information was collected using 46 trawls organized within nine fishing quadrants. The total catch shrimp, bycatch, and discard were recorded and standardized (CPUE kg h-1). Value index by species, species richness, diversity using Shannon and Weaver index, and equitability were determined. A total of 3055 individuals were collected, which corresponded to nine families, 13 genera, and 14 species. Achelous spinicarpus species were identified at the greatest relative abundance (77.74%). Four new species records for the zone: Hepatus pudibundus, Iliacantha liodactylus, Leiolambrus punctatissimus, and Platylambrus granulatus. Species richness varied according to fishing quadrant and depth interval assessed. The highest value of species richness was eight, and observed Margalef species richness index values ranged from 0 to 2.23. The diversity values ranged from 0 to 2.41 bits ind-1; this may indicate that a few species share the greatest impact of trawling. The presence of lagoon systems was determined to define a portion of the composition of the assemblage. Understanding assemblage structure is important to improve knowledge on the impact of shrimp trawling activity on the ecosystem.

LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP OF THE SIX MOST ABUNDANT FISH SPECIES IN PRAWN FISHERY SEMI-FIXED TRAP BYCATCHES IN THE LOWER AMAZON REGION (PARÁ, BRAZIL)

In this study, the length-weight relationships (LWR) were estimated for six fish species captured during prawn fishing in the Lower Amazon region (Pará, Brazil). Prawn fishing boosts the socioeconomic development of riverine communities and is a relevant activity as a source of income and subsistence in this region. In addition, we registered new LWRs for the species Ossancora punctata and Hypoptopoma elongatum. The samplings were performed in prawn catches monthly from February 2018 to January 2019, using a "matapi" which consists of a semiâ€"˜fixed trap that has a galvanized iron structure (2.5 m height by 2.0 m in length) and nylon mesh (1.40 x 1.60 mm mesh), and has two tapered openings to facilitate the entry and trapping of the prawn. The results show that 75% of the fish caught as prawn bycatches had not yet reached sexual maturity. Thus, it is clear that fisheries need to develop fishing gear that allow small fish to escape from the traps during the prawn fishery.

Mitochondrial DNA variation of Metapenaeus monoceros (Decapoda, Penaeidae) reveals high genetic variation within Bangladesh with distinct lineages in the Indian Ocean

AbstractThe speckled shrimp Metapenaeus monoceros is a commercially important penaeid shrimp in the Indo‐West Pacific region including Bangladesh. Phylogenetics of penaeid shrimps is still a debatable issue, and molecular variation within the species is large. This study focused on the phylogeography of M. monoceros, including an assessment of the phylogenetic relationships among seven other Metapenaeus species by assessing sequence variation in three mitochondrial markers, the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), control region (CR) and 16S rRNA (16S). In addition, the mitochondrial variation along the Bangladesh coastline was analysed. The mitochondrial variation has a clear geographical pattern with two distinct evolutionary lineages, one found in the western Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and the second in the eastern Indian Ocean. A phylogenetic analysis of Metapenaeus based on the three markers revealed polyphyletic relationships within the genus and that the taxonomy needs revision. The mtDNA variation in Metapenaeus monoceros in Bangladesh presents a single population (AMOVA, FST and ΦST p > .05), which started to expand around 467 (CI: 186–753) kyr ago, and is characterized by a large number of closely related haplotypes. The study could be used to improve the management and conservation of the shrimp fishery in the region.

Productivity driven by Tana river discharge is spatially limited in Kenyan coastal waters

The Tana River is the longest river system in Kenya (~1000 km) and contributes ~ 50% of the total river discharge to Kenyan coastal waters. The river discharges significant amounts of nutrients and sediments, reaching ~24,000 tons per day during the rainy season (March–April), into Ungwana Bay (North Kenya Banks). The bay is an important habitat for high-value Panaeid prawn species which sustain important small-scale fisheries, semi-industrial bottom trawl prawn fisheries, and is the livelihood mainstay in the surrounding counties. In this study we analysed >20 years of satellite-derived chlorophyll-a observations (Chl-a, an index of phytoplankton biomass), along with in situ river discharge and rainfall data, to investigate if the Tana River discharge is a major driver of local phytoplankton biomass in Ungwana Bay and for the neighbouring Kenyan shelf. We find that during the rainy inter-monsoon (March–April), a significant positive relationship (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001) exists between river discharge and phytoplankton biomass. There is a clear time-lag between rainfall, river discharge (1-month lag) and local chlorophyll biomass (2-months lag after discharge). Unlike offshore waters which exhibit bi-annual chl-a peaks (0.22 mg m−3 in February, and 0.223 mg m−3 in August/September), Ungwana Bay displays a single peak per annum in July (2.51 mg m−3), with indications that river discharge sustains phytoplankton biomass for several months. Satellite-derived observations and Lagrangian tracking simulations indicate that higher Chl-a concentrations remain locally within the bay, rather than influencing the broader open waters of the North Kenya Banks that are mainly impacted by the wider oceanic circulation.

Prevalence of Black Gill (Hyalophysa lynni) in White Shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus and Brown Shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus along the Texas Gulf Coast

AbstractShrimp black gill is an emerging disease caused by a parasitic ciliate, Hyalophysa lynni, that attacks gill tissue in white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus and brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus and induces an immune response that produces melanized tissue in shrimp gills. This immune response causes necrosis and damage in shrimp gill tissue, which limits shrimp metabolic capability and can lead to high predation mortality among infected individuals. Shrimp black gill was first observed in the southeast Atlantic shrimp fishery in the United States, and this ciliate has been increasing in prevalence in shrimp populations of this region since 2000. The Gulf of Mexico, with its lucrative shrimp fishery and extended warmwater conditions during the year, is a potential region for H. lynni spread. White and brown shrimp were sampled from seven major bays along the Gulf coast of Texas from March to November 2019 and underwent PCR analysis to detect H. lynni presence in gill tissue. From March to November, 65% of the collected shrimp samples tested positive for H. lynni. Samples from all seven bays tested positive for H. lynni, with the upper‐coast bays having a significantly higher disease prevalence than lower‐coast bays. Both white and brown shrimp samples tested positive for H. lynni; however, white shrimp samples had a significantly higher disease prevalence. Overall, disease prevalence showed a temporal pattern of low prevalence in the spring, peaking during the late fall. Generalized additive mixed models detected a high water temperature and a salinity level of 30‰ or less as significant contributors to high disease prevalence. This study validates the commonality of H. lynni presence in the western Gulf of Mexico, serves as a baseline for future shrimp black gill sampling efforts in this region, and contributes to the understanding and management of potential disease threats to the Texas shrimp fishery.

Only carapace or the entire cephalothorax: which is best to obtain chitosan from shrimp fishery waste?

Only carapace or the entire cephalothorax: which is best to obtain chitosan from shrimp fishery waste?

Penaeid Shrimp in Chesapeake Bay: Population Growth and Black Gill Disease Syndrome

AbstractSince 1991, the number of penaeid shrimp occurring in Virginia waters of Chesapeake Bay has steadily increased, prompting an interest in developing a fishery. Although development of a shrimp fishery in the Chesapeake Bay region could bring economic benefits, the fishery may be hampered by the presence of a disease syndrome known as shrimp black gill (sBG). The objectives of our study were to (1) describe the spatial distribution and abundance patterns of shrimp in Chesapeake Bay, (2) relate relative abundance of shrimp to habitat characteristics, and (3) determine the presence and seasonality of sBG to better understand disease dynamics in the region. Subadult penaeid shrimp were collected monthly from Virginia waters by trawl from 1991 to 2017, and individuals were identified to species and counted. White shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus were the most numerous species captured, followed by brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus and pink shrimp F. duorarum. Shrimp were captured primarily from July to December. White shrimp were the only species that exhibited visible signs of sBG, which was first observed in October 2016 (13.4% prevalence); the condition continued into November and recurred the following year. Shrimp with visible signs of gill disease were examined by microscopy, histology, and PCR assay and were diagnosed with infections of a histophagous apostome ciliate, presumably Hyalophysa lynni. Any impacts of sBG on shrimp survival or marketability should be considered in fishery management plans to ensure sustainability of the resource.

Invertebrates assemblage captured by a pink shrimp's fishery on Amazon continental shelf

Shrimp trawl fisheries constitute a major threat to continental shelves' biodiversity, given their profound impact on benthic communities. We investigated the composition of an invertebrate assemblage impacted by this type of fishery and possible correlations of the abundance and richness with specific environmental parameters. The activities of the industrial shrimp fleet on the north coast of Brazil were monitored over two years. We analyzed 20,303 specimens belonging to seven phyla (Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Sipuncula, Annelida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata) and 154 species. There was a predominance of generalist and rare species, given that most species (86) were sporadic. Taxonomic composition patterns were complex, dynamic, and were correlated mainly with the temperature and depth of the Amazon continental shelf, the largest in extension and low depth of the South Atlantic. The crustaceans were dominant in both abundance and taxonomic richness. The influence of environmental factors on the abundance of the main species is discussed. The invertebrates are a neglected component in studies of fisheries impact and important components of the ecological structure of the Amazon coast. They are an essential group for developing a holistic fisheries management approach, which will support the sustainability of the region's fisheries and preserve local aquatic communities.

Biological traits of the spot prawn Pandalus platyceros Brandt, 1851 (Decapoda, Caridea) at its southernmost distribution limit

Abstract The spot prawn fishery, targeting Pandalus platyceros, has failed to prove commercially viable on the Mexican Pacific coast. A survey was carried out off the northwestern coast of Baja California, at depths of 140-180 m. The objective was to describe the biological traits of the species to test the hypothesis that warmer water stimulates higher growth parameters. An average model was estimated that anticipated an inverted exponential growth curve, consequently the growth parameters of the Von Bertalanffy model were obtained as , carapace length (CL) and . Being a protandric hermaphrodite, the transition size was estimated at 40.8 mm CL. The results challenged the hypothesis that P. platyceros grows faster in temperate environments than in cold environments.

Climate Indices Predict Black Gill Prevalence in White Shrimp Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus, 1767) in South Carolina and Georgia, USA

The white shrimp fisheries in South Carolina and Georgia, USA, have undergone substantial reductions in commercial landings over the past few decades. These declines are associated with reduced commercial effort, shifting climate patterns, and disease outbreaks. For example, recent increases in the occurrence of gill melanization, also known as black gill, have led to the suggestion that this epidemic is a major contributor to reduced shrimp abundance in the region. The goal of this study was to assess long-term patterns and drivers of black gill, and its effects on white shrimp abundance, particularly during the fall, when most of the commercial harvest of white shrimp in this region has historically occurred. Data were compiled for fishery-independent (2002–2017) metrics of white shrimp abundance and black gill prevalence from seven estuaries along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts. Phenology of black gill was variable among years, but mean black gill prevalence was significantly related to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and El Niño–Southern Oscillation climate indices. These analyses show that the prevalence of black gill is sensitive to large-scale fluctuations in climate patterns.

Investigating the performance of a roller footgear in the offshore shrimp fishery of Eastern Canada using underwater video

The offshore Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) fishery in Eastern Canada is currently harvested by factory freezer vessels using bottom trawls. This fishery is a major contributor to the regions’ economy, however, bottom trawling typically is associated with negative benthic impacts. We evaluated the at-sea engineering performance of a roller footgear using underwater cameras. This footgear is designed to roll, limiting negative benthic impacts and reducing fuel usage, compared to non-rolling rockhopper footgear. We describe and document a new technique for measuring the time to complete a rotation in seconds (TCR) of bosom and quarter-wing footgear sections on hard, mixed, and soft seabed. Our results showed that footgear sections were rotating at extremely low rates. Results predicted a statistically significant 184 % increase in TCR when comparing the bosom to the quarter-wing section (p = 0.035). TCR on hard seabed ranged from 23.6 s in the bosom to 43.4 s in the quarter-wing section, while mixed (from 169.0–311.1 s) and soft (from 862.6–1587.6 s) seabed types produced significantly longer TCR (p < 0.001). This study provides evidence that roller footgear is not rotating at the velocity expected by the industry and offers essential information to further develop innovative footgear with reduced seabed impact.