Introduction

Arguably the most important fishery in Texas, shrimp accounts for both 85% of landings and overall economic value of the Texas commercial fishing industry. The fishery is composed mainly of three species: brown (Farfantepenaeus aztecus), white (Litopenaeus setiferus), and pink (Farfantepenaeus duorarum). Of these species, the majority harvested are brown and white shrimp. In 2015, 52.6 million pounds of brown shrimp and 16.6 million pounds of white shrimp were landed with revenues of $96.8 million and $46.6 million respectively. Brown shrimp landings in Texas account for 49% of the total harvest in the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for the management of shrimp in Texas waters. Federal waters off Texas are managed by NOAA Fisheries and the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council.

For more information about the shrimp fishery in Texas, visit FINFO.

For more information about the shrimp fishery in federal waters, visit FishWatch.