Prawn, northern | Good Fish Guide | The consumer guide to sustainable seafood

Common name - Prawn, northern

Scientific name - Pandalus borealis

Average rating

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Consumer Information

Prawns are crustaceans related to species such as lobster and langoustines. They develop initially as males and later become females during their 5-year life cycle. Cold-water or northern prawns are smaller than their warm-water relatives, the tiger and king prawns, but generally more sustainably produced. Choose cold-water prawns from fisheries using sorting grids to reduce by-catch. Several Canadian northern prawn fisheries are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the NE Arctic (Barents Sea) fishery is also sustainably fished. Prawns are usually sold peeled, cooked and frozen or whole. Their tails are used in prawn cocktails.

Summary

Northern prawn or shrimp (the names are often used interchangeably) are cold-water crustaceans distinct from warm water species found in tropical waters. The actual status of prawn stocks is generally unknown and subject to large natural fluctuations. Total global fishery production for this species in 2009 was 341 718t, reduced from a high of 447 424t in 2004 (FAO). Increase the sustainability of the fish you eat by only choosing prawns taken in fisheries using sorting grids to reduce by-catch of non-target species. There are also MSC certified fisheries for this species.

Alternatives

(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)

Crab, brown or edible
Crab, spider
Lobster, European
Norway Lobster, Langoustine, Dublin Bay prawn or scampi
Prawn, northern
Shrimp, brown or common

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