February 15-18, 2009 Washington State Convention Center Seattle ...

LIVE BAIT SHRIMP MARKETING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO AND SOUTH ATLANTIC
STATES
Terrill R. Hanson* and Ben Posadas
Department of Aquaculture and Allied Aquacultures
Auburn University
203 Swingle Hall
Auburn, Alabama 36849 USA
trh0008@auburn.edu
A live bait shrimp market survey instrument was developed and sent out in May/June 2008. The goal of the study was to better
understand the supply and demand of live bait shrimp at the recreational outlet level along the Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic states. Results of this survey effort will be presented.
The survey was sent to 543 marine bait dealers whose addresses were found through searching related internet websites. Fiftynine
useable surveys were returned, 26 returned surveys stated they did not sell live bait shrimp and 3 replied saying they had
gone out of business. There were 124 undeliverable surveys (but returned to us via USPS); and 331 no responses. Thus, there
were 390 potential surveys and a response rate of 15.1%.
Survey results are expected to provide information on the amount of live bait shrimp sold and demanded from live bait shrimp
suppliers. Additionally, the survey was designed to obtain information that will be needed by aquaculture operations in producing
native live bait shrimp species (white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus and pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum).
Examples survey question areas and their anlaysis include:
- Size of shrimp preferred by dealers (and their customers): important in developing the shrimp culture facility, production
management, and timing (also cost of production will differ by size required);
- Potential quantity of shrimp required within a region: will provide valuable information regarding the size of hatchery and
production system required to partially meet this demand;
- Time of year live bait shrimp are needed: will give aquaculturists information on how they must hatch, grow and/or maintain
(store) live shrimp sizes for availability around peak demand times of the year;
- Prices for live bait shrimp: prices bait shop operators have paid and would be willing to pay for captured versus cultured bait
shrimp; will determine whether cultured shrimp characteristics, such as greater availability, better appearance, suitable sizes,
less mortality, etc., will evoke a premium price from bait dealers or charter boat captains;
- Additional information: how long bait store has been in business; number of holding tanks on-site, present source of bait;
shrimp species purchased; monthly quantities needed; retail sales price; and factors determining from whom they buy.
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