Acetes is a genus of small shrimp resembling krill, found in the western and central Indo-Pacific, the Atlantic coast of the Americas, the Pacific coast of South America, and inland waters of South America. While most species inhabit marine or estuarine environments, the South American A. paraguayensis is a freshwater species. Several species of Acetes, including A. japonicus, are significant for shrimp paste production in Southeast Asia. A. japonicus holds the distinction of being the most heavily fished wild shrimp or prawn species globally in terms of total tonnage, and it constitutes a significant portion of non-human animals harvested for food in terms of the number of individuals.