Research conducted at the AgriLife Research Mariculture Laboratory in Flour Bluff is focused on development of sustainable shrimp culture practices for exotic and indigenous species.  Research includes spawning, postlarvae production, high-density nursery and grow-out of live bait shrimp in raceways and ponds.  The studies with native species are conducted with the pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum), the brown shrimp (F. aztecus) and the Atlantic white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus).  Other research activity is focused on the development of cost-effective biosecure nursery and grow-out shrimp production in raceways and outdoor lined ponds under limited water discharge.  Studies also include the use of an integrated pond system in which effluent water from shrimp culture tanks is used for the production of macroalgae.  Other studies focus on the development of fishmeal and fish oil free diets for the Pacific white shrimp.  The facility is equipped with a water quality laboratory, small-scale algae and postlarvae production units, experimental larvae production unit, medium and small size outdoor tank systems, raceways under a greenhouse and six experimental (about 0.2 ha in size) outdoor lined ponds.

AgriLife Research Mariculture Laboratory
4301 Waldron Road
Corpus Christi, TX  78418
Phone:  361-937-2268
Fax:  361-937-6470