A review about the diversity of Macrobrachium genus (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) and their historical evolution in the fishery and aquaculture in Colombia was performed, in order to evaluate its ecological, nutritional and commercial value, considering their evident linkage to artisanal fisheries and oriented research. The policy for fisheries control and the use of introduced species are also documented. 23 species were recorded distributed by the following sectors: (1) Colombian Caribbean (Macrobrachium acanthurus, M. carcinus, M. cortezi, M. crenulatum, M. faustinum, M. heterochirus, M. olfersii, M. praecox, M. Surinamicum), (2) Native of the Colombian Pacific (Macrobrachium americanum, M. hancocki, M. panamense, M. rathbunae, M. tenellum, M. transandicum), (3) Natives of the Orinoco and Colombian Amazon (Macrobrachium amazonicum, M. Brazil, M. cortezi, M. ferreirai, M. digueti, M. nattereri, M. reyesi), and (4) Exotic in Colombia (M. rosenbergii).