Dietary methionine (Met) remains as one of most important and limiting essential amino acids (EAA) to shrimp nutrition. It acts in protein synthesis and often becomes deficient in fishmeal challenged diets. This review presents the results of six studies which determined the interactions of production variables and the optimal dietary Met content in practical diets for L. vannamei. In all studies, juvenile shrimp of 1-2 g were reared in green or brownish water tanks of 1 m3 for 10 weeks and fed low-fishmeal diets (5% or less) supplemented with graded levels of DL-Methionyl-DL-Methionine (AQUAVI® Met-Met, Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH, Germany) and other crystalline AA. In study 01, we evaluated the effect stocking density (50, 75 or 100 shrimp/m2). Results indicated the increase in stocking density raised FCR and yield, while reducing shrimp weekly growth and final BW. Growth rate of shrimp was affected by an interaction between dietary Met content and stocking density. An enhanced shrimp performance was obtained in diets containing between 0.72 (1.19% Met+Cys) and 0.81% Met (1.28% Met+Cys), depending on stocking density. In study 02, we compared shrimp performance reared under flow-through (1.4-2.9% a day) and static (14.4% a day) water exchange conditions. We found that raising shrimp under limited, i.e., static, versus flow-through water exchange regime spared the dependence on higher levels of dietary Met, from 0.94 to 0.80% (1.40 and 1.26% Met+Cys, respectively). In study 03, we evaluated the effect of feeding frequency on shrimp performance with a low-fish meal diet supplemented with crystalline AAs. Shrimp BW was enhanced with an increase in feeding frequency, from 8.74, 10.95, 11.33, and 11.33 g under 2x, 4x and multiple feedings during the day or during D&N, respectively. In study 04, we evaluated the sparing effect of feed allowance on Met requirements. Shrimp were fed under two feed allowances, regular and 30% in excess. There was a significant interaction between feed allowance and dietary Met over shrimp BW. By feeding animals 30% in excess, BW was enhanced at 0.69% Met. A dietary Met of 0.79% was required to maximize BW under a regular feeding. In study 05, we evaluated the effect of dietary Met and crude protein (CP) levels on the performance of shrimp. Four sets of diets were prepared containing (% on a fed basis) 31, 34, 37, and 40% CP, with each protein level combined with a total dietary Met (Met+Cys) level of 0.56 (1.07), 0.71 (1.22), 0.88 (1.38), or 1.04 (1.55). Shrimp fed 0.56% Met achieved the lowest BW at harvest. Increasing CP beyond 34% did not enhance BW. With a dietary Met content of 0.71%, the highest BW was achieved with 34% CP compared to other levels. Our study has shown that if dietary Met (Met+Cys) meets a minimum of 0.71% (1.22%), levels of CP could be reduced from 40 to 34%. In study 06, we determined the minimum possible level of fishmeal in diets containing graded levels of Met. Four sets of feeds contained 0, 6, 12 and 18% fishmeal with a total dietary Met (Met+Cys) of 0.65 (1.17), 0.78 (1.30) and 0.92% (1.44), on a total DM basis. No differences in BW were observed in shrimp fed diets containing 6%, 12% or 18% (13.3-13.6 g) fishmeal. However, shrimp fed 0% fishmeal diet showed lower BW (12.84 g) relative to those fed 12 or 18% fishmeal diet. A higher BW was observed when shrimp were fed diets with 1.29% Met+Cys. At low fishmeal (0-6%), higher levels of dietary Met+Cys (1.16-1.29%) were required to maximize shrimp BW likely due to differences in Met digestibility among diets.