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Common shrimp

The common shrimp, also known as the brown shrimp, is a small but ecologically and commercially important crustacean found throughout the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. It plays a major role in coastal food webs as both predator and prey and supports a significant fishery, especially in some areas of Europe where they are a popular food.

 

Common shrimp are camouflage masters! These small crustaceans, which can measure over 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long, hide from predators and prey alike by burrowing in the ocean floor as well as color matching to their background. They are able to quickly change their color to better match the sediment and lighting on the seafloor. Such an ability allows common shrimp to avoid detection from predators like birds, fish, and other crustaceans as well as to better ambush their prey.

These shrimp typically are found near coasts and estuaries, burrowing in sand and muddy ocean bottoms. They are found mostly in shallow waters, although larger adults will venture deeper into waters up to 130 meters (426 feet) deep. Scientists believe that common shrimp undertake seasonal migrations, moving towards warmer waters in the winter and cooler waters in the summer.

 

 

The greatest pressure on common shrimp comes from commercial fishing. It is heavily targeted in parts of northern Europe, where it is a very important and abundant resource. Currently, the species is not known to be facing any significant threats from overfishing.

 

 

Science-based policies are key for properly managed fisheries. Oceana campaigns around the world to mitigate the effects of overfishing and increase the number of fisheries with management plans and catch limits in order to rebuild ocean abundance. Learn more about Oceana’s work here.

 

 

Campos, J. & van der Veer, H. W. (2008). Autecology Of Crangon Crangon (L.) With An Emphasis On Latitudinal Trends. Oceanography and Marine Biology 46. DOI:10.1201/9781420065756.ch3 

Luttikhuizen, P., Campos, J., Bleijswijk, J., Peijnenburg, K., & van der Veer, H. (2008). Phylogeography of the common shrimp, Crangon crangon (L.) across its distribution range. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46(3), 1015-1030. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2007.11.011. 

Siegenthaler, A., Mastin, A., Dufaut, C. et al. (2018). Background matching in the brown shrimp Crangon crangon: adaptive camouflage and behavioural-plasticity. Sci Rep 8, 3292 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21412-y 

 

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