FishWise recently evaluated how various types of farmed U.S. shrimp rank based on their marine resource use, escapement risk, disease risk, habitat damage, and the efficacy of management for different production systems (more on MBA aquaculture methods here). Traffic light colors were used to designate best choice shrimp (green), good alternatives (yellow) and product to avoid (red).

The U.S. is the largest market for shrimp globally. Shrimp aquaculture in the U.S. focuses primarily on the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Domestic demand currently far exceeds the available supply, where < 0.1% of global white shrimp are produced within the U.S. Data for 2008 indicate that more than 87% of the total weight of marine shrimp farmed in the U.S. comes from operations engaging in low-level (1-3%) daily water exchange between farms and coastal systems. The majority of production from exchanging systems occurs in Texas (>99%). Small numbers of zero-exchange recirculating systems and inland ponds can be found throughout the country. Meaningfully different risks are associated with coastal farms that exchange farm waters with natural environments versus closed recirculation systems or inland ponds.

For consumers who cannot distinguish how shrimp were farmed, all U.S. shrimp should be considered a Good Alternative. 

For buyers, or members of the supply line who can verify production methods, shrimp from exchanging coastal farms is classified as a good Good Alternative because they use moderate amounts of wild forage fish, have episodic escapes, operate with a moderate risk of disease transfer to wild shrimp and may be sited in or adjoining vulnerable coastal wetlands. Businesses that can verify that shrimp come from zero-exchange recirculating systems or inland ponds can rank this shrimp as a Best Choice. These operations use moderate amounts of wild forage fish, but avoid the two main impacts from shrimp farming in the U.S. by preventing viable escapes and strongly diminishing the potential for disease transfer.

To view the new U.S. Farmed Shrimp Report, click here.