Northern Prawn

1. What is it?

Cold water prawns (Pandalus borealis) are short-lived species found along the ocean floor. Stock biomass is thought to be above precautionary reference points. However, fishing effort was found to be above sustainable levels in the last few years.

2. How was it caught or farmed?

Cold water prawns are caught using demersal otter trawl. Demersal otter trawls are nets that are dragged along the seafloor at different depths. Although scientific evidence is lacking, the demersal trawl fishery is likely to have an impact on Endangered Threatened and Protected species. Discards and bycatch in the fishery is moderate due to the use of sorting grids and other bycatch mitigation measures. The fishery may cause damage to some ETP (Endangered, Threatened and Protected) species, mostly to elasmobranchs (eg.sharks).

3. Where is it from?

The cold-water prawn is caught in Norway and imported into South Africa. The Directorate of Fisheries launched a strategy to improve the management of the shrimp stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak (April 2015), but until now the measurements are not implemented respectively cannot be reconstructed. Management is effective due to the reduction in unwanted bycatch using mitigation devices. However, concern remains regarding the implementation of management decisions which have not been followed in recent years.

A management system is in place and partly effective for target species, while lacking more consideration of non?target species. ?target species. Currently no EBM (Ecosystem Based Management) exists, but singular measures are in place. Most of the fishery is MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certified.

Cold water prawns (Pandalus borealis) are red listed and orange listed depending where it is farmed