What Are Tiger Shrimp? A Complete Overview of This Unique Species

Tiger shrimp, also known as giant tiger prawns, are a large species of shrimp native to the Indo-Pacific region that have recently been introduced in the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern US Their aggressive nature, large size, and potential to carry disease make them a concerning invasive species that poses a threat to native shrimp populations. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly tiger shrimp are and why they have fisheries scientists worried.

Anatomy and Appearance

• Scientifically known as Penaeus monodon, tiger shrimp belong to the family Penaeidae. They can grow up to a foot long and weigh over a pound.

• Their most distinguishing feature is the pattern of black stripes across the tail and upper body, resembling a tiger hence the name. The stripes may be dark black, deep blue, or dark brown.

• The body itself ranges in color from sandy brown to solid black. Some varieties have an orange-brown body with bluish-black stripes.

• The large size, striped pattern, solid black coloration, and aggressive nature distinguish them from native shrimp species in the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Atlantic

• Tiger shrimp are native to the Indo-Pacific region, including the coastal waters of countries like India, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, and Australia.

• They thrive in warm tropical and subtropical habitats. As larvae they live in the open ocean, then migrate back to coastal mangroves and marshes as juveniles and adults.

• Tiger shrimp were first introduced to US waters in 1988 when approximately 13,000 shrimp escaped from an aquaculture research facility in South Carolina.

• By 1990 they had spread as far south as Florida. After a brief disappearance following 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, they reappeared in 2006 and have been consistently present since then.

• They are now well-established in the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida and up the southeastern Atlantic coast to North Carolina. The center of abundance seems to be Louisiana.

Ecological Concerns

• Tiger shrimp pose a major threat to native shrimp species due to their large size, aggressive nature, and potential to spread disease.

• They outcompete native shrimp for food and habitat. Their large size allows them to prey on native juvenile shrimp.

• Tiger shrimp can carry up to 16 different diseases that they can transmit to native shrimp populations. This includes infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and yellow head virus (YHV).

• Disease outbreaks spawned by tiger shrimp have already caused significant die-offs of native white shrimp in the Gulf. This causes economic harm to the region’s shrimp fisheries.

• There is also concern that tiger shrimp may compete with juvenile stages of ecologically and economically important fish species like red drum, black drum, and spotted seatrout.

Commercial Importance

• Tiger shrimp grow quickly and have a mild, sweet flavor, making them a prized seafood ingredient. They are farmed extensively in their native Indo-Pacific range.

• International demand led to tiger shrimp aquaculture facilities popping up in the Caribbean and Latin America in the 1980s. It’s believed that many of the tiger shrimp now in US waters originated from Caribbean facilities.

• US federal law prohibits interstate transport and commerce of tiger shrimp. However, they are frequently caught by shrimpers in the Gulf and southeast.

• There are no regulations prohibiting sale within individual states. As a result, tiger shrimp often show up in local seafood markets, restaurants, and fish frys where they fetch a high price for their large, tasty meat.

• Texas state law specifically prohibits farming of tiger shrimp, but does allow for sale and consumption if caught from the wild. Other states like Louisiana and Florida have no regulations regarding sale or consumption.

Identification and Reporting

• Distinguishing tiger shrimp from similar native species is important both for scientific monitoring purposes and compliance with commercial regulations.

• Look for the large size (up to 12 inches long), dark body coloration, distinct striped banding pattern on the tail, and overall aggressive appearance compared to native shrimp.

• Any suspected tiger shrimp should be reported to state wildlife officials. Many states actively encourage shrimpers to catch tiger shrimp and provide samples to managers for research purposes.

• Tiger shrimp cannot be released back into the water if captured. They must be retained and either consumed, sold to a licensed seafood dealer, or surrendered to fisheries authorities.

The sudden appearance and spread of invasive tiger shrimp in US waters poses management challenges and ecological threats we are just beginning to understand. Their future impacts on native shrimp populations and the Gulf’s $500 million dollar shrimp fishery remains uncertain. But research and monitoring efforts are underway to learn more about the biology and spread of tiger shrimp so we can prevent further ecological and economic harm.