whiteleg

Whiteleg, or Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), is a species of penaeid shrimp that dominates global aquaculture. Native to the eastern Pacific Ocean—from Sonora, Mexico, to Peru—it has been widely introduced in warm coastal waters around the world for farming because of its fast growth, high tolerance to salinity changes, and suitability for intensive production in ponds, tanks, or recirculating systems.

Description: Adults typically reach about 20 cm in length. The body is pale gray to bluish with a white ventral surface. The rostrum is long and armed with teeth on its upper and lower margins. Like other penaeid shrimp, it has a segmented abdomen and five pairs of walking legs.

Ecology and life cycle: It is euryhaline, tolerating a wide range of salinities; wild populations inhabit coastal and estuarine zones. It undergoes a planktonic larval stage (nauplius, zoea, mysis) before juvenile and adult stages. In aquaculture, production relies on hatcheries to seed ponds or tanks.

Aquaculture and management: It is the most widely farmed shrimp species globally. Culture can reach market size in 3–6 months under optimal conditions. Diet is formulated pellets; typical feed conversion ratio around 1.5–2.0. Preferred water temperatures 26–30°C; salinity 15–35 ppt. The species is vulnerable to viral and bacterial diseases, notably white spot syndrome virus; disease pressure shapes management and certification standards. Selective breeding and improved biosecurity have increased resilience and performance.

Economic importance and trade: A major seafood commodity; top producers include China, Vietnam, India, Ecuador, Thailand, and Indonesia. Major markets include the United States, the European Union, and Japan.

Sustainability and environmental considerations: Intensive farming can impact coastal ecosystems, with concerns about disease spillover, reliance on wild seed stock, and habitat modification. Certification schemes and best management practices aim to address these issues.