Chinese white shrimp facts for kids
The Chinese white shrimp, also called the oriental shrimp or fleshy prawn (Fenneropenaeus chinensis), is a type of shrimp. People raise these shrimp in large farms, especially off the coast of mainland China. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many shrimp got sick, which caused big problems for the farms. Since then, catching wild shrimp has become more popular, but farming them is not as big as it used to be.
This shrimp used to have different scientific names like Cancer chinensis and Penaeus orientalis. Now, scientists call it Fenneropenaeus chinensis.
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About the Chinese White Shrimp
The Chinese white shrimp is a popular seafood choice. It is known for its tasty meat, which is why it's called a "fleshy prawn." These shrimp live in the ocean and are an important part of the seafood industry in many Asian countries.
Where Do They Live?
You can find Chinese white shrimp mainly in the waters around China, Korea, and Japan. They prefer to live in coastal areas where the water is not too deep.
How Are They Farmed?
Shrimp farming, also known as aquaculture, is a way to raise shrimp in controlled environments. For the Chinese white shrimp, this often means raising them in large ponds or tanks. This helps provide a steady supply of shrimp for people to eat.
Protecting the Shrimp
In the past, the number of Chinese white shrimp dropped a lot. This was because of diseases and too much fishing. To help the shrimp population grow again, China started a special program in 1984.
Releasing Young Shrimp
As part of this program, young shrimp (called juveniles) were released into the ocean. The idea was to help more shrimp survive and grow. This program worked very well! By 2006, about 600 million young shrimp were released each year. This helped increase the number of shrimp caught by fishermen.
