What are shrimp?

Bay Shrimp are small shrimps that inhabit the mouth along the west coast of North America, from Alaska to San Diego. These shrimp are not commercially important, with the exception of San Francisco Bay, where they are caught primarily for use as a bait, although some people also consume them. They are also interesting as an indicator, due to their sensitivity to excessive fishing, temperature changes, chemical pollution and salinity fluctuations. They pass through a number of alternative names, including California shrimp, black shrimp, sand shrimp, common shrimp and grass shrimp, and prefer slightly salt waters of the bay and mouth, not an open ocean. In the Gulf of San Francisco, these are the most common types of shrimp. Salt level levels seem to have a young shrimp, so biologists can monitor the movements and health of shrimp populations to see how they affect salinity changes. Because many rivers' mouths are threatened with severe pollution, these crustaceans are also a very useful type of indicator as they can provide early warningOutgoing before the problem of pollution.

In bays where fishing and other human activities take place, the monitoring of the impact of human activity on the environment can also be used. They are a common side catch in networks, so a drastic decline in their population can indicate unsustainable fishing practices. These crustaceans are also sensitive to construction projects that can leave food sources or change the water composition.

In regions where shrimp is considered commercial commodity, the vast majority are caught for use as a bait fishermen and commercial foster. But they are also perfectly edible, and some people on the west coast consider them a delicacy, perhaps because they are not as commonly available in the open market as other species.