The year 2002 was difficult for domestic shrimp farmers. Prices fell sharply as the downturn in Japan's economy persisted and import restrictions in Europe funneled excess shrimp to the US. The events of September 11 also altered the eating habits of Americans. Farm gate prices for shrimp dropped to a national average of $2.52/lb, with state averages as low as $1.75/lb. Several states, however, offset falling prices by developing strategies that yielded higher than average sales. These states contributed a greater percentage to the value of US farmed shrimp than to the pounds they actually produced (see below). Direct marketing, promotion of product freshness, and even sales of live animals into ethnic markets were used to leverage the unique quality and advantages of US farm-raised shrimp. Taking heed, many of these same strategies are being used this season in other states as farmers work in concert with state marketing programs to find and develop new and more profit-able markets for their shrimp.

Our 2002 Industry Survey indicated that a critical priority for US marine shrimp farmers was developing strategies to offset falling prices. In direct response, the USMSFP 2003 Implementation Plan added a major research objective to assess the value of marketing strategies for shrimp, which is currently ongoing. We also emphasized production economics, using sensitivity analyses to target research to improve farm production efficiencies and lower overall costs. In this issue of Industry Briefs, we focus on other USMSFP efforts to provide a competitive edge to US farmers by developing viable, super-intensive nursery and growout production systems. Results at the Waddell Mariculture Center and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Shrimp Mariculture Research Facility, have brought us much closer to realizing the benefits of these emerging technologies. In fact, nursery phases are already in use on several US shrimp farms to provide a head start in growout, employ double cropping, produce larger shrimp to gain market advantage, or to better manage production strategies for sales. An article from an independent news source also touts key value-added attributes of these systems, fresh shrimp and off-season production. With low shrimp prices likely here to stay, the USMSFP is well positioned to help the domestic shrimp farming industry meet the challenges of the future in a big way.