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Show Brine Shrimp Industry shrimp industry and the maintenance of a viable lake ecosystem to understand the cause of the reduced egg hatch. The Sanders Brine Shrimp Company was responsible for establishing the use of brine shrimp from the lake for commercial purposes. This company harvests what are termed winter eggs from the shore of the lake, cleans them, and packs them for marketing. The eggs are hatched by the consumer for use as tropical fish food or feed for commerically grown edible shrimp. It is well established that the brine shrimp reproduce through both summer eggs ( soft shelled) and winter eggs ( hard shelled). The soft shelled eggs hatch within hours of being laid, but the winter eggs must first be dried before they will hatch. For a yet unexplained reason the hatch of harvested winter brine shrimp eggs has dropped steadily from 75 percent prior to 1967 to about 5 percent in 1975. Unless this trend reverses it could bring an end to this commercial venture on the lake. The royalities which have been paid to the state for brine shrimp egg harvesting are found in Searle et al. ( 1976). Since little is known about the conditions that affect the brine shrimp reproductive cycle it is not possible to pinpoint the reason for the reduction in hatchable eggs. The small amount of data on the population of brine shrimp in the lake as a function of time makes it impossible to presently ascertain if the reduced egg hatch is associated with a shift in the reproductive cycle in the brine shrimp or a reduction in brine shrimp population due to some type of adverse conditions. Brine shrimp play an important role in the lake ecosystem and it is important to both the brine Research needs of the brine shrimp industry logically focus on the need to understand the conditions favorable to the production of winter eggs having a high proportion of hatch. The research needs are summarized in Table 4. Oil and Gas Development Exploration for oil in and around Great Salt Lake has received attention at various times since the turn of the century. The presence of oil was established with the discovery of natural oil seeps at Rozel Point. Attempts to produce oil within the lake have resulted in only marginal success to the present time. Recent leases have been granted to American Oil Company ( AMOCO) making it the only oil company with rights to explore for oil within the boundaries of Great Salt Lake. Seismic exploration of the lake bed by AMOCO established the presence of formations considered favorable for exploratory oil drilling. However, there is no definite indication that significant production of oil is possible. The Dow Chemical Company ( 1973) prepared a report for the Utah Division of Water Resources on the feasibility of locating an industrial complex in the Wastach Front Region. The study was based on the assumption of manufacturing 14 chemical products mainly from Utah crude oil and minerals extracted from Great Salt Lake. The report is favorable on the Table 4. Research needs identified for the brine shrimp industry. Research Needs Possible Information Source Group A The optimum environmental and ecosystem conditions for hatchable winter egg production. This should include the variation of egg production with changing food supply and environmental factors such as salinity and brine temperature. The variation of brine shrimp population with time. Group B The role of the brine shrimp in the lake ecosystem. Identification of the nutrient supply and environmental conditions necessary to sustain brine shrimp in the lake. Group C A study of alternatives to the shore collection of eggs including alternative methods of egg production such as brine shrimp farming. Post ( USU), Porcella ( USU) Post ( USU), UGMS Post ( USU), Porcella ( USU) Post ( USU), Porcella ( USU) Brine Shrimp Industry 31 |