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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Prawn, Freshwater

©Scandinavian Fishing Yearbook/www.scandfish.com

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Freshwater Prawn		Giant River Prawn, Malaysian Prawn	U.S.	Farmed
Northern Shrimp		Bay Shrimp, Cocktail Shrimp, Salad Shrimp, Ebi	U.S., Canadian Atlantic	Wild-caught
Pink Shrimp		Bay Shrimp, Cocktail Shrimp, Ocean Shrimp, Salad Shrimp, Ebi	Oregon	Wild-caught
Rock Shrimp		Rock Shrimp	U.S.	Wild-caught
Shrimp		Pacific White Shrimp, West Coast White Shrimp, Ebi	U.S.	Closed systems, Inland ponds
Shrimp		Pacific White Shrimp, West Coast White Shrimp, Ebi	U.S.	Open systems
Shrimp		White Shrimp, Brown Shrimp, Pink Shrimp, Rock Shrimp, Ebi	U.S. Gulf of Mexico, U.S. South Atlantic	Wild-caught
Shrimp		Black Tiger Shrimp, Tiger Prawn, White Shrimp, Ebi	Imported	Farmed
Shrimp		Black Tiger Shrimp, Tiger Prawn, White Shrimp, Ebi	Imported	Wild-caught
Spot Prawn		Prawn, Spot Shrimp, Amaebi	British Columbia	Wild-caught
Spot Prawn		Prawn, Spot Shrimp, Amaebi	U.S. Pacific	Wild-caught

Freshwater Prawn

U.S. farmed freshwater prawns are raised in small-scale operations using practices that are compatible with the prawn’s biology. These factors make U.S. farmed freshwater prawns a "Best Choice."

Consumer Note

Freshwater prawns are also known as Malaysian or giant river prawns. Although not generally available from retailers, they can be purchased directly from farms or ordered via the phone or internet. The terms “shrimp” and “prawn” are used interchangeably by markets and restaurants.

Summary

Freshwater prawns are tropical animals first brought to the U.S. in the 1960s. They’re territorial and cannibalistic and don’t tolerate crowded farm ponds. Freshwater prawns are omnivores and consume the plants, insects and other naturally occurring food available to them in the farm ponds. Only small amounts of added feed are required.

In most of the U.S., prawns are raised inland, away from the coast and the brackish water they need to reproduce. This, and their inability to tolerate winter temperatures, reduces the risk of escape and establishment in the wild.

Freshwater prawns are naturally resilient to disease and there has yet to be an outbreak in the U.S.

Pollution is also not a concern because most farms reuse or treat the pond water. These management practices help make this a sustainable

option, despite the absence of government regulations.

U.S. farmed freshwater prawns are a “Best Choice” and, with a green ranking in each of the criterion considered by Seafood Watch, one of the most sustainable seafood choices available.

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

U.S. Farmed Freshwater Prawn Seafood Watch Report

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