The dominant microbiota of brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) were systematically identified during
storage under different conditions. Freshly caught shrimp were processed on board the fishing vessel
under the best possible hygienic conditions (IDEAL), unpeeled and manually (sterile) peeled, then stored
on ice and at 7.5 C until microbiologically spoiled. Results were compared with industrially processed
(INDUSTRIAL) shrimp. Isolates grown on various media were identified by 16S rRNA and gyrB gene
sequencing. We examined the total microbiota and microbial population shifts of shrimp under various
storage conditions using denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The microbiota differed
somewhat during storage and among the various storage conditions; however, members of the genera
Psychrobacter and Pseudoalteromonas were found to dominate the microbiota of all shrimp samples
regardless of processing procedures or storage conditions. Most isolates could be identified by gyrB gene
sequencing as Psychrobacter immobilis or Psychrobacter cibarius. Also Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciens,
Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii or Pseudoalteromonas paragorgicola dominated the microbiota of brown
shrimp during storage. Also species from the genera Planocuccus, Exiguobacterium, Carnobacterium,
Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium and Staphylococcus were detected during storage of brown shrimp.
Culture-dependent and culture-independent DGGE analysis produced different results in band patterns. Both methods are therefore required to accurately identify the microbiota and bacterial population shifts on seafood during storage.