The Effects of Temperature and Salinity on the Survival and Growth of the Shrimp Penaeus marginatus

Abstract

Penaeus marginatus is a marine shrimp native to the Hawaiian Islands more commonly known as opai loloa. This organism belongs to a genus of shrimp that is of high commercial food value throughout the world. In Florida, shrimp industries exceed that of all other seafoods combined, and in the United States, penaeid shrimps bring in more dollars than tuna or salmon. In fact, shrimp demands are increasing so rapidly it has been estimated that existing natural shrimp resources will be depleted by 1980 if world demands for these organisms continue at the present rate. The depletion of existing shrimp sources will ultimately force a shift in emphasis to aquaculture and the artificial rearing of these animals for human consumption on a large scale basis. It is the ultimate goal of this paper to contribute to the realization of the commercial culture of P. marginatus.