Intensive prawn monoculture has repeatedly seen epidemics wiping out entire crops, or drastically reducing production. In Taiwan, aquaculture has boomed since 1984 and production reached 100,000

Not very long ago, shrimp was plebeian grub. Oldtimers in the south still remember that it was but small courtesy for toddy sellers to give half-a-dozen shrimps free with a bottle of the best.