Since 1985, shrimp aquaculture has been one of the most rapidly expanding economic activities along the coasts of Mexico. The production of farmed shrimp increased from 33,480 t per year in 2000–2001 to 128,000 t in 2008–2009, representing 69% of the overall production in Mexico (CONAPESCA, 2009). Currently, most of the shrimp farms in Mexico are located on the Pacific coast in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa (61,905 ha), whereas Tamaulipas and Tabasco, on the Gulf of Mexico, only have a production area of 960 ha (FIRA, 2009).Shrimp culture, however, has developed rapidly in Tamaulipas and has transformed traditional aquaculture in this area. Extensive and semi-intensive shrimp production systems are used in brackish
water near the coasts, whereas intensive farms can be located farther