In an effort to bring more eco-friendly shellfish to the market, Louisiana’s shrimp industry has begun testing an innovative sulphite-free liquid enzyme treatment to prevent melanosis, or black spot in harvested shellfish.
The Prawnfresh Plus treatment is harmless to the shrimp, which are dipped into a tank containing saltwater and Prawnfresh Plus. The active ingredient in the treatment has achieved generally recognized as safe status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has also been approved for use in the EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The blackening effect from melanosis harms the shrimp's appearance and market value.
The treatment is increasingly being used by shellfish producers around the world, according to Karl Turner, president of Sea Fresh Solution, the exclusive distributor of the treatment in North America.
“We are delighted that Louisiana shrimp fishermen are now recognizing the advantages of using Prawnfresh Plus,” said John Davis, managing director of Xyrex Ltd., manufacturer of Prawnfresh Plus. “Karl Turner has worked really hard over recent months to achieve these results despite the setback the oil spill brought to the industry.” Davis added that the treatment will benefit the health of the workers in the fishery as well as public health in general.
More than a dozen Louisiana shrimpers have participated in trials and professors at Texas A&M and Louisiana State University have been enlisted to review and compare Prawnfresh Plus.
“Prior tests at the University of Glasgow in Scotland have already demonstrated the benefits of using Prawnfresh Plus as a safe, effective product that helped delay in the onset of melanosis compared with sodium metabisulfite,” said Turner. “Prawnfresh Plus could prove to be very beneficial to Gulf shrimp fishermen, because it leaves no chemical residues or taints, resulting in a better quality catch that will bring the best possible price.”
