Habitat Suitability Index Models: Northern Gulf of Mexico Brown and White Shrimp

Shrimp are the most valuable commercial fishery in the United States and an important sport fishery. Brown shrimp and white shrimp are found along much of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The geographic range of the brown shrimp extends from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, through the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Maximum densities of brown shrimp occur along the Texas-Louisiana coast.

Perez-Farfante listed white shrimp as occurring along the Atlantic coast from Fire Island, New York, to St. Lucie Inlet, Florida. White shrimp are distributed along the Gulf of Mexico coast from Ochlockonee River of Apalachee Bay, Florida, west and southward around the gulf to Ciudad Campeche, Mexico. Highest densities of white shrimp occur off the Louisiana coast in waters less than 9.1 m (30 f t ) deep. These 'species occur in both marine and estuarine habitats and have similar life histories. Adult shrimp spawn offshore in marine waters; the fertilized eggs become free-swimming larvae.