Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans also known as brine shrimp. The ability of the Artemia to produce dormant eggs, known as cysts, has led to extensive use of Artemia in aquaculture. The cysts may be stored indefinitely and hatched on demand to provide a convenient form of live feed for larval fish and crustaceans.

Whitebait of Artemia is an excellent feed for juveniles of fish and shrimp which ensures the survival of juveniles in the first days of life. As a live feed product, Artemia nauplii offer a strong nutritional profile, high in fats, lipids, and protein, ranging from 55% to 60% protein by dry weight. They have a high content of carotenoid pigments, EPA, and vitamin B12. These nutritional qualities are crucial to the growth and survival of fish and shrimp larvae. They can be enriched with other feeds or additives, a process often referred to as “bio- encapsulation” in order to deliver HUFAs, antibiotics, or other nutrients to the target species. Artemia cysts can be stored for long periods without losing viability.