Convergence zones of water masses in the Great Salt Lake bring floating brine shrimp cysts (resting eggs) together in long lines. During the harvest season that begins in October, "brine shrimpers" harvest these cysts that are subsequently sold to the aquaculture industry. The juveniles that hatch from the cysts (nauplii)are fed to juvenile prawns and fish. The cyst harvest is a multi-million dollar industry.


Photo: Gilbert Bay, 24 June 2009. The slick is composed of both brine shrimp cysts, and moribund adult Artemia.