Giant Cannibal Shrimp Threaten Already Suffering Native Shrimp in Gulf

Asian black tiger shrimp (a quarter-pound behemoth) -- Giant cannibal shrimp more than a FOOT long invade waters off Gulf Coast (Photo credit: marsmet501)

The Gulf of Mexico, already suffering from decimated fish populations caused by the BP oil spill, have yet another problem.

Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report numbers of the massive Asian tiger shrimp in the U.S. Southeast coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, have increased tenfold. 

“And they are probably even more prevalent than reports suggest, because the more fisherman and other locals become accustomed to seeing them, the less likely they are to report them,” said Pam Fuller, a USGS biologist.

The shrimp, which can grow to 13 inches long -- compared to eight inches for domestic white, brown and pink shrimp -- are native to Asian and Australian waters and have been reported in coastal waters from North Carolina to Texas.

Although the Asian tiger shrimp are eatable, scientists fear the tigers will bring disease and competition for native shrimp already experiencing a disturbing number of mutations and deformity caused by chemicals released during BP’s 2010 oil disaster.

“The Asian tiger shrimp represents yet another potential marine invader capable of altering fragile marine ecosystems,” NOAA marine ecologist James Morris told CNN. 

“Our efforts will include assessments of the biology and ecology of this non-native species and attempts to predict impacts to economically and ecologically important species of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.”

In 1998, about 2,000 Asian tiger shrimp were accidentally released from an aquaculture facility in South Carolina. Farming of the giant shrimp ended in the United States, but they were caught again off Alabama, North Carolina, Louisiana and Florida.

The last U.S. tiger shrimp farm closed in Florida in 2004, without ever raising a successful crop, according to a USGS fact sheet about the species.

CNN notes that Tiger shrimp females can lay 50,000 to a million eggs, which hatch within 24 hours, and the shrimp may also be carried to the Gulf waters by currents or in ballast tanks of marine vessels.

“We’re going to start by searching for subtle differences in the DNA of Asian tiger shrimp found here – outside their native range – to see if we can learn more about how they got here,” USGS geneticist Margaret Hunter said in a statement.

“If we find differences, the next step will be to fine-tune the analysis to determine whether they are breeding here, have multiple populations, or are carried in from outside areas.”