Shrimp and Redfish Studies, Bryan Mound Brine Disposal Site Off Freeport, Texas 1979-1981. Vol. III - Shrimp Spawning Site Survey

In a study performed over October 1979-September 1980, immature brown shrimp were found to move through the nearshore marine environment in the vicinity of the brine diffuser offshore Freeport, Texas (and in the surrounding area) in two waves during summer as they emigrated from the estuaries to offshore spawning habitats. The major spawning habitat of brown shrimp is well offshore, generally located along the 40 to 50 m depth contours. White shrimp in the study area appeared mainly restrioted to a band within about 8 km of the beach and spawning mainly occurred in these nearshore areas. The diffuser appears well-sited in terms of minimizing the impacts on spawning of these two shrimps--it is seaward of the area of greatest white shrimp activity and shoreward of the area of greatest brown shrimp activity.