How to Start a Shrimp Farm

Shrimp is one of the most popular types of seafood throughout the U.S. and around the world. Although most of the shrimp aquaculture occurs in the Far East, the local food movement (locavore) can mean an increased market for local suppliers of shrimp. You may want to take advantage of this trend and put some of your land to use by starting a shrimp farm aquaculture business. You can have high quality food for your own family and plenty to sell for profit. For the business to work successfully and profitably, however, you need to take certain careful steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Licenses or permits
  • Pond or pool
  • Water
  • Aerator
  • Juvenile shrimp
  • Feed
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain any required licenses and permits. Check with local authorities to find out what laws and regulations apply in your jurisdiction. Calling your city government is generally your best bet to find the answers you need.

    • 2

      Prepare a place for your shrimp. Most farmers use a pond, but a swimming pool or a tank will do if it is deep enough to hold 0.6 meters of water.

    • 3

      Test the water and make sure it is free of chemicals and harmful bacteria. If using tap water to fill the tank, let it stand for several hours to let the chlorine evaporate and the water to warm. Make sure a pond is free from predators such as catfish and amphibians. Keep the pH level of the water under 10.

    • 4

      Connect an aerator to the pool or pond to oxygenate the water. This must run constantly while the shrimp are present.

    • 5

      Stock the pool or pond with quality juvenile shrimp.

    • 6

      Feed the shrimp twice a day with pelleted food. Although they will eat algae, insect larvae and plankton, the commercially prepared food is better and acts as a supplement.

    • 7

      Sell grown shrimp to a grocery store, restaurant or at your own stand.