Shrimp Stock
Shrimp Reproduction Rates
One of the great things about shrimp is that they can reproduce rapidly. Most shrimp species only have a life cycle of 12 to 24 months. They are born and mature in the same year. A shrimp can lay as many as 50,000 eggs in one reproduction cycle. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae formed will go through several changes before becoming sexually mature and able to reproduce. This process takes anywhere from 30 to 160 days, depending on species and habitat.
So with this in mind, the actual attrition of the shrimp stock is not a concern; however, how shrimping affects the environment and habitat in which they live is the most important aspect to the survival of the shrimp stock.
Environmental Factors & Parental Stock
The stock abundance for pink, white, and brown shrimp is driven by environmental factors, not the parental stock of the species. A parental stock size where overfishing would occur has not been identified. Federal and State scientists believe that shrimp would not face overfishing at much higher catch rates than those observed over the past decade. This is due to the rapid reproduction and short life spans.
Most NGOs and rating systems are satisfied with the shrimp stock levels and do not consider it a concern for the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery.