Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) is anticipating another large harvest of banana prawns (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis and Fenneropenaeus indicus), confirmed the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
The new banana prawn catching season got underway following a break in the cyclone activity and heavy rains in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Fifty-two prawn trawl vessels from the Commonwealth-managed NPF entered the gulf and northern Australian waters to kick start the fishery on 1 April.
“Lovers of Australian wild-caught prawns will be happy to hear the forecast for the banana prawn season should be a good one, with fishers hoping the season will rival last year’s bumper harvest,” said Dr James Findlay, CEO of AFMA.
Historically, the banana prawn catch season runs through to 15 June.
Located off Australia’s northern coast from Cape York in Queensland to Cape Londonderry in Western Australia, the NPF was recently recertified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for the coming five years. It was first certified by MSC in 2012 and was the first tropical shrimp fishery in Australia to achieve the standard.
“Market demand for top quality prawns remains high, so AFMA’s sustainable approach to fisheries management is important to maintaining that supply of prawns into the future,” said Findlay.
“Commitment from industry, effective management arrangements, such as limits on the fishing effort, and the best available scientific research has meant the NPF has continued to maintain sustainable operations.”
As well as banana prawns, commercial fishers target tiger prawns (Penaeus esculentus and Penaeus semisulcatus) and endeavor prawns (Metapenaeus endeavouri and Metapenaeus ensis), with a combined catch value in excess of AUD 100 million (USD 76.8 million, EUR 62.7 million).
Harvests are frozen fresh on-board to be sold in Australian markets and exported, with overseas markets including Japan and China.
