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Seafood Information

No continental food arena is complete without prawns. The meat has a sweet, delicate flavor and is considered better than either lobster or shrimp. They are a rich source of calcium, protein and antioxidants like selenium. Besides having a definite role in enhancing our appetite prawns are a source of polyunsaturated fats which have anti-inflammatory properties and stop the cartilage in joints from eroding. Studies have also found their omega-3s reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and have anti cancer properties.

Prawns are served as several dishes like curry and pickle in southeast Asia, and as garlic prawns in Spain. Other dishes include prawn sauce, tapas and potted shrimp. Prawns are also served with chicken wings and rice. In Philippines a major delicacy is  prawns in coconut milk. The dish is prepared by cooking prawns in coconut milk with a ginger, salt and pepper.

Prawns belong to the crustacean family, macrobrachium genus and suborder dendrobrachiata. The genus Macrobrachium consists of about 200 species. They resemble shrimp as well as lobster, with narrow body and long legs. Prawns are salt water creatures but they migrate to fresh water to spawn. There is confusion with regards to terminology, as shrimps are also referred to prawns; but the term prawns should be reserved to the fresh water palaemonids. In United Kingdom and other European countries the term "prawns" is commonly used whereas term "shrimp" is used in North America.

Several different types of prawns are found in both seawater and fresh water and they are also widely farmed in various countries. Freshwater prawn farming is an aquaculture business designed to raise and produce freshwater prawns for human consumption as well as decorative intent. China is the leader in production of prawns although a lot of southeast Asian countries also produce prawns. Till the last decade only Giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) were farmed. But recently, the oriental river prawn (M. nipponense) are farmed in China , and monsoon river prawn (M. malcolmsonii) are farmed in India.

Prawns are farmed by inoculating postlarvae from the hatcheries into the nurseries and then releasing them into the ponds. Prawns are continuously harvested from the pond or in batches. Raising prawns is a lot like other types of food animals. The operation requires special attention and hard work; the ponds are stocked in the spring with juvenile prawns that grow throughout the summer. When the prawns are large enough to harvest, the farmers drain the ponds, and the prawns follow the water flow as it exits into a catch basin. Once in the basin they are then netted, placed in baskets and carried on for additional processing.

Prawns used to be very common in the natural waters. Because of excessive fishing and deterioration of habitat and spawning grounds, the natural catch has been reduced drastically. In some areas the prawn has become a luxury food item as production no longer meets consumer demand.