Several species of warmwater (penaeid) shrimp are found in Gulf of Mexico, including white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus), brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus), pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum), royal red shrimp (Pleoticus robustus or Hymenopenaeus robustus), and rock shrimp (Sicyonia brevirostris).
Gulf shrimp are harvested from Florida to Texas. According to NOAA's Fisheries Economics of the United States 2009, Gulf of Mexico shrimpers averaged $409 million in landings revenue from 2000 to 2009.
During the period, shrimp was the most valuable catch for fishermen in Alabama, West Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Lousiana fishermen landed the most shrimp, exceeding 100 million pounds annually.
Declines of gulf shrimp landings and values during the period were due to falling ex-vessel prices.
Roughly 68 percent of of the shrimp harvested in the USA comes from the Gulf of Mexico.
Roughly 68 percent of of the shrimp harvested in the USA comes from the Gulf of Mexico.
