Carotenoprotein from shells of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was extracted with the aid of proteases from hepatopancreas of the same species at various levels (5–30 units/g shrimp shell) for different times (0–180 min). Recovery of carotenoprotein increased with increasing protease levels and hydrolysis times, but mainly reached the plateau at 120 min of hydrolysis. Carotenoprotein contained astaxanthin and astaxanthindiester as major carotenoids. Carotenoids extracted from carotenoprotein showed increasing ABTS, DPPH radical scavenging activities, FRAP and metal chelating activity when the concentrations increased up to 5 mg/ml (p