8
horizontally in the water to find food at night. Most of the shrimps are fed by filtering the water containing the nutrient particles (plankton) or the decay material in the
ground sludge. Among the shrimp species, there are also those who have consistently followed the pelagic life (Artuz 2005). As in the other Decapods, most of the
shrimps have separate sexes, but certain species first undergo a male phase and then
to a female (Farfante 1988).
Sometimes shrimps are locally named differently. In Turkish, small species are
commonly referred to as “Teke” and large species are called “shrimp”. Shrimps,
which are called “Crevette” in French, are divided into two subgroups as “Shrimp”
and “Prawn” in English. Usually “shrimp” is called for small species; “prawn” is
used for large species. There is no significant difference between the two terms and
even the use is sometimes confused. Their use is often mixed or even reversed in
different countries. Therefore, no attempt has been made to restrict or define their
meaning. Naming according to their size causes confusion in international trade.
Sometimes colour is used in naming. Pink species are called prawn brown species.
However, this leads to significant confusion (Anonymous 1972; Chan 1998a).
Mostly the term “shrimp” will be used in this book, but the term used in a scientific
article will be given as in same form when referring to scientific research.
2.1.1.2 Distribution of Shrimps/Prawns
The shrimps have a widespread area from the equator to the poles. It is commonly
found in fresh water, brackish water, and seas. About 2000–3000 species are known,
of which only about 300 are of commercial importance, and especially about 100
species constitute a significant part of world fishing (Farfante 1988; Kocataş et al.
1991; Chan 1998a; Gillett 2008). Although the marine species range from the shore
to a depth of 5700 m, most of the shrimp species of commercial importance have
spread to the depths of 100 m above the continental shelf. Despite its few representatives living in the pelagic region, most of them live in benthic area and especially
in muddy, sandy-muddy, or rocky bottoms (Farfante 1988).
2.1.1.3 Trade and Marketing of Shrimps/Prawns
Shrimp and prawns are heavily traded products and represent the second main group
of species exported. So far, the biggest share of production was in Latin America
and Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, but most of the consumption is in developed markets. Although shrimp captured from nature in the production of total
shrimp has an important contribution, most of the shrimp today is obtained by aquaculture. Total shrimp, prawn production as 8.7 million tonnes is reported by FAO in
2016 (FAO 2018). The part of 3.5 million tonnes of this production comes from
capture fisheries and 5.2 million tonnes from aquaculture. With the increase in
demand in developing countries, the prices of shrimps have increased in line with
the general trend in the last 2–3 years. It is one of the most important products in
2 Crustacean Shellfish
horizontally in the water to find food at night. Most of the shrimps are fed by filtering the water containing the nutrient particles (plankton) or the decay material in the
ground sludge. Among the shrimp species, there are also those who have consistently followed the pelagic life (Artuz 2005). As in the other Decapods, most of the
shrimps have separate sexes, but certain species first undergo a male phase and then
to a female (Farfante 1988).
Sometimes shrimps are locally named differently. In Turkish, small species are
commonly referred to as “Teke” and large species are called “shrimp”. Shrimps,
which are called “Crevette” in French, are divided into two subgroups as “Shrimp”
and “Prawn” in English. Usually “shrimp” is called for small species; “prawn” is
used for large species. There is no significant difference between the two terms and
even the use is sometimes confused. Their use is often mixed or even reversed in
different countries. Therefore, no attempt has been made to restrict or define their
meaning. Naming according to their size causes confusion in international trade.
Sometimes colour is used in naming. Pink species are called prawn brown species.
However, this leads to significant confusion (Anonymous 1972; Chan 1998a).
Mostly the term “shrimp” will be used in this book, but the term used in a scientific
article will be given as in same form when referring to scientific research.
2.1.1.2 Distribution of Shrimps/Prawns
The shrimps have a widespread area from the equator to the poles. It is commonly
found in fresh water, brackish water, and seas. About 2000–3000 species are known,
of which only about 300 are of commercial importance, and especially about 100
species constitute a significant part of world fishing (Farfante 1988; Kocataş et al.
1991; Chan 1998a; Gillett 2008). Although the marine species range from the shore
to a depth of 5700 m, most of the shrimp species of commercial importance have
spread to the depths of 100 m above the continental shelf. Despite its few representatives living in the pelagic region, most of them live in benthic area and especially
in muddy, sandy-muddy, or rocky bottoms (Farfante 1988).
2.1.1.3 Trade and Marketing of Shrimps/Prawns
Shrimp and prawns are heavily traded products and represent the second main group
of species exported. So far, the biggest share of production was in Latin America
and Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, but most of the consumption is in developed markets. Although shrimp captured from nature in the production of total
shrimp has an important contribution, most of the shrimp today is obtained by aquaculture. Total shrimp, prawn production as 8.7 million tonnes is reported by FAO in
2016 (FAO 2018). The part of 3.5 million tonnes of this production comes from
capture fisheries and 5.2 million tonnes from aquaculture. With the increase in
demand in developing countries, the prices of shrimps have increased in line with
the general trend in the last 2–3 years. It is one of the most important products in
2 Crustacean Shellfish