SHRIMP: A WORLDWIDE FAVORITE

Shrimp is America's most valuable seafood product and is popular the world over. Americans consume 2.8 pounds of shrimp per person, making it the number one fresh and frozen seafood product. (Global shrimp production is estimated at 7.6 billion pounds.)

In today's health conscious world, shrimp can easily be added into one's diet without having to worry. According to a study, "Effects of Shrimp consumption on Plasma Lipoproteins", in the November 1996 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Volume 64, Number 5), shrimp can provide health benefits. Scientists, in this first-ever study of shrimp cholesterol's effect on lipoprotein patterns, came to some important conclusions. They reported that shrimp is high in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good-for-you" cholesterol, and low in low-density cholesterol, which is harmful to the heart. Lipoproteins are important because it is these large molecules in the blood which carry fat and cholesterol throughout the body.

The shrimp industry is also committed to make shrimp harvesting environmentally safe, specifically for sea turtles. In 1992, US shrimp trawlers were outfitted with turtle excluder devices (TED's). These devices allow accidentally caught sea turtles to swim free and unharmed. TED's, however, are only one part of the shrimp industry's commitment to protecting and preserving sea turtle populations. The industry also supports sea turtle nesting beach protection in Tamaulipas, Mexico, as well as theongoing study of sea turtles strandings, nesting and hatchling production.

Developing nations are becoming a strong force in this growing business. In fact, trade in seafood products is greater than coffee, tea, rubber, and banana exports combined, with shrimp ranked as a leading commodity. It is surveyed that some 60 percent of the world's population looks to seafood to provide 40 percent of their animal protein. Approximately one billion people depend upon seafood for 100 percent of their animal protein in Asian countries.

There is a high demand of shrimp in the United States, Europe and Japan. The harvest of wild shrimp from marine waters has been relatively constant over the last decade at around 2,000,000 metric tons per year. In some places, however, wild harvests are in decline because of over shrimping. This is also greatly affected by the deterioration of the marine environmentally pollution and other human activities that can impact he ocean's productivity. This is why aqua culture has become such and important enterprise.

Shrimp farming has become a big industry in many countries around the world, especially in Asia. Thailand, Indonesia, China and India are just a few nations that have taken advantage of this growing enterprise. In fact, Asian countries account for 70% of the world shrimp production. Between 1985 and 1997, the total percentage of shrimp production grew by 218%. Countries like the United States, Europe, and Japan will probably remain minor shrimp producers but will nevertheless be major players in the shrimp industry. They are large consumers of shrimp, they produce materials and supplies needed for shrimp farming, and they provide much technical expertise on production and processing techniques. The United States, however, did produce 5,800,000 pounds of shrimp in 1997.

Shrimp farmers and government agencies have made mistakes in shrimp farming because of poor planning or poor management., When shrimp farming is properly conducted, it is profitable, environmentally sound, and beneficial to coastal communities and national economies.

Shrimp is a versatile dish, which can be served on salads, pasta, or eaten by itself, It is a good source of HDL and cab be bought year-round.

Source: The National Fisheries Institute