The U.S. leads in development of specific-pathogen-free and domesticated brood shrimp; this has created an opportunity for U.S. producers to export these premium value brood shrimp to major shrimp farming countries. U.S. producers will need an efficient brood shrimp transport system to replace the standard method which ships 5 shrimp in 10 liters of water and has a survival rate of about 85 percent for 24-hour shipments. This project proposes to develop an efficient brood shrimp transport system by increasing shrimp survival rates. density per box and shipping time. To determine feasibility. tests will be conducted during Phase I using components of a system recently developed for shipping high densities of live fish. This system will be modified to conform to brood shrimp dimensions, physiology and behavior. Phase I work will have the following objectives: (1) to determine if this live fish transport system is a practical alternative to the standard shipping method for brood shrimp, (2) to determine if redesigning this transport system will improve it's performance with brood shrimp, and (3) to compare efficiency in economic terms by calculating benefit-cost ratios for the two shipping methods.Applications:We expect to develop a system to transport 50 brood shrimp per box, 36 to 48 hours with survival rates over 95 percent. Exporters ot premium value brood shrimp will have immediate commercial application of this svstem. An efficient transport system will be an integral part of a brood shrimp export industry. It will increase access to foreign markets, encourage this industry's expansion. and enable U.S. producers to compete with producers that may locate closer to major markets. This transport system will enable the U.S. to establish and retain it's lead as the primary source of premium value brood shrimp.
