The objective of the Literature Review was to provide the most up-to-date information regarding the research carried out in the four partner countries and over the rest of the world, on the topics of ecological impacts and economic performances, current shrimp farming development and industry status, current state-of-knowledge on Institutional Arrangements and Social Impacts of shrimp farming activities. The literature review underlines very different development profiles and policy options in the four countries. If at the world level global trends are found in terms of environmental and social impacts, as well as in terms of technical and legal issues, key policy options and stakeholder organization rather appear at the national or regional level.