ABSTRACTThis analysis utilized the production data obtained in 1982 from ponds at the Cedar Bayou Texas A&M Mariculture Facility, east of Baytown, Texas. The Aquaculture Budget Simulation System developed at Texas A&M University was applied to create budgetary information including the net return, economic profit, break‐even quantities and prices, and net present values over a 10‐year horizon. This information was used to evaluate the economic feasibility of different stocking strategies at a proposed 76‐ha commercial penaeid shrimp culture operation. The stocking strategies consist of monoculture ofPenaeus stylirostrisat 10 and 20/m2respectively and polyculture ofP. stylirostriswithP. vannameiat two ratios (3:1 and 1:3) with a total density of 20/m2.The results indicated that only the polyculture of 75%P. vannameiwith 25%P. stylirostrisis economically profitable. This stocking strategy yields an economic profit of $54,589 for the first year of operation. The break‐even production of 1,526 kg/ha is less than the expected annual production of 1,919 kg/ha. The break‐even price of $6.11/kg is less than the market price of $8.23/kg. The net present value is $839,424 over 10 years considering the beginning $20,000 cash and 20% of the total investment as owner's investment. The payback occurred following the second year'