Wild Shrimp Harvesting Faces Challenges in Supply and Sustainability

According to the MSC, an increasing number of shrimp fisheries are participating in sustainability certification programs. In South America, the MSC certification of the Argentine red shrimp fishery has significantly increased the volume of certified wild-caught shrimp entering the market.

However, wild shrimp fisheries continue to face a number of challenges. Camiel Derichs, Director of Program Development at the MSC, noted that many fisheries still rely on bottom trawling, which can affect seabed ecosystems and increase the risk of bycatch when small mesh sizes are used. Currently, around 76.6% of global wild-caught shrimp production remains outside the MSC certification program. In addition, many fisheries still lack sufficient data to accurately determine sustainable catch levels.

Environmental factors are also placing additional pressure on shrimp resources. Rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, climate change, and changes in food availability and geographic distribution can all affect fishing yields.

For the Argentine red shrimp fishery, factors such as labor conditions, seasonality, and logistics can cause significant fluctuations in production from year to year. In 2026, production reached record levels for two consecutive months, raising the possibility that the fishing season could end earlier than expected. This came after shrimp prices rose sharply due to difficult fishing conditions in 2025, before declining as supply improved.

In the United States, the shrimp industry in the Gulf of Mexico is also facing pressure from production costs, labor issues, and marketing challenges. An NFI representative said the product still has strong potential and that consumers may be willing to pay higher prices, but the current challenges require a range of solutions rather than relying solely on tariff policies.

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