Application of a Bio-Economic-Engineering Model for Shrimp Mariculture Systems

The culture of marine invertebrates, collectively termed mariculture, has received much attention as a new and potentially lucrative industry. Much research has been devoted to molluscs (oysters, clams, and mussels) and crustaceans (shrimp, crawfish, crabs, and lobsters) (Bardach, Ryther, and McLarney). In particular, effort has been directed to the development of a technologically and commercially feasible penaeid shrimp mariculture scheme (Broom; Mock and Murphy; Neal and Latapie; Parker and Conte; Wheeler). Results of extensive research efforts show promise that the technological feasibility of penaeid shrimp farming in Gulf coastal regions of the United States is near to being a reality.