OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - Scientists at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory are keeping watch for Asian tiger shrimp in coastal waters and are asking local shrimpers to do the same. Within the last month, several have been caught in local waters. The potentially invasive, large shrimp are aggressive toward other shrimp. “These shrimp are in competition for resources needed by our native species and they also carry diseases that can affect both shrimp and crabs,” said Harriet Perry, director of the Center for Fisheries Research and Development at GCRL. “We’ve been aware for some time that these shrimp have been periodically taken in trawls in waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico, but these are the first specimens captured in Mississippi waters,” Perry said. The primary concern is the potential transfer of viral diseases to native shrimp. (Source: USM, 10/22/09)
Shipbuilding and maritime related news from the Central Gulf Coast region
Friday, October 23, 2009
Asian tiger shrimp reported in coastal waters
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - Scientists at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory are keeping watch for Asian tiger shrimp in coastal waters and are asking local shrimpers to do the same. Within the last month, several have been caught in local waters. The potentially invasive, large shrimp are aggressive toward other shrimp. “These shrimp are in competition for resources needed by our native species and they also carry diseases that can affect both shrimp and crabs,” said Harriet Perry, director of the Center for Fisheries Research and Development at GCRL. “We’ve been aware for some time that these shrimp have been periodically taken in trawls in waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico, but these are the first specimens captured in Mississippi waters,” Perry said. The primary concern is the potential transfer of viral diseases to native shrimp. (Source: USM, 10/22/09)
