Pink Shrimp
Farfantepenaeus duorarum
Also known as Spotted shrimp, Hopper, Pink spotted shrimp, Brown spotted shrimp, Grooved shrimp, Green shrimp, Pink night shrimp, Red shrimp, Skipper, Pushed shrimp
Culinary Profile
Flavorful and sweet.
Tender.
Pink shrimp is low in saturated fat and is a very good source of protein, selenium, and vitamin B12.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Pink shrimp are crustaceans with 10 slender, relatively long walking legs and five pairs of swimming legs, located on the front surface of the abdomen. They typically have a dark-colored spot on each side between their third and fourth abdominal segments. Their tail usually has a dark blue band (rather than the purplish band found on brown shrimp). Their carapace is grooved.
Biology
Pink shrimp grow fairly fast, depending on factors such as water temperature and salinity, and can reach over 8 inches in length. They have a short life span, usually less than 2 years, and are often referred to as an “annual crop.” Pink shrimp are able to reproduce when they reach about 3.3 inches long. Off North Carolina, they spawn in May through July.
Where They Live
Range Pink shrimp are found from southern Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Keys and around the coast of the Gulf of America to the Yucatan south of Cabo Catoche, Mexico. They’re most abundant off southwestern Florida and the southeastern Gulf of Campeche. Habitat Pink shrimp are commonly found on sand, sand-shell, or coral-mud bottoms.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round, with peaks in the winter.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from North Carolina to Texas, but mainly from Florida.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2023, landings of pink shrimp totaled 12.4 million pounds and were valued at over $20 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . The three species of penaeid shrimp ( white , pink, and brown ) make up the vast majority of the shrimp harvested in the southeast. This fishery is one of the most valuable fisheries in the southeastern United States. Over 75 percent of the pink shrimp harvested in the United States comes from the west coast of Florida. Annual harvests of pink shrimp vary considerably from year to year, primarily due to environmental conditions. Harvests are much lower in years following severe winter weather.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 111 Species
Where Pink Shrimp ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc | 1.34 mg | 14 / 111 | 87% |
| Protein | 20.1 g | 29 / 111 | 74% |
| Phosphorus | 214 mg | 44 / 111 | 60% |
| Iron | 0.52 mg | 63 / 111 | 43% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 30 mg | 88 / 104 | 15% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 31 mg | 101 / 104 | 3% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pink Shrimp.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Sweet-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the sweet flavour profile of Pink Shrimp, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Snow Crab
Chionoecetes opilio
Sweet.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in the water column does Pink Shrimp live?
Range Pink shrimp are found from southern Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Keys and around the coast of the Gulf of America to the Yucatan south of Cabo Catoche, Mexico. They’re most abundant off southwestern Florida and the southeastern Gulf of Campeche. Habitat Pink shrimp are commonly found on sand, sand-shell, or coral-mud bottoms.
How long do Pink Shrimp live?
Life span, usually less than 2 years.
How much protein is in 100 g of Pink Shrimp?
A 100 g raw serving of Pink Shrimp provides 20.1 g of protein — roughly 40% of the FDA 50 g daily value.
Is Pink Shrimp a lean fish or a rich one?
At 85 kcal per 100 g raw, Pink Shrimp counts as lean on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
Sustainability Story
Southeast
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of pink shrimp: South Atlantic and Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico). According to the most recent stock assessments: The South Atlantic stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2018). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART . The Gulf of America stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2019).
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Gear restrictions, such as a weak-link in the tickler chain, are in place to protect bottom habitat from trawl gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf Fishery Management Councils manage the pink shrimp fishery, and state resource management agencies are responsible for inshore state waters. In the South Atlantic, managed under the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic Region : Permits are needed to harvest shrimp in federal waters.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 17 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.