Coldwater shrimp (Pandalus borealis) are landed by commercial fishermen throughout the North Atlantic. Coldwater shrimp are known for their pink color and sweet, flavorful meat. The species is also known as northern shrimp, northern prawn, and Greenland prawn.
Greenland
In Greenland, P. borealis is known as Greenland prawn. Greenland has prawn fisheries along both the west and east coasts. The prawn fleet includes two distinct components. Near shore vessels supply onshore processors while offshore vessels cook and process shrimp at sea. Greenland’s prawn fishery is certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Canada
Coldwater shrimp is one of the Canada’s most valuable fisheries. Canadian fishermen harvest coldwater shrimp mainly in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The Canadian coldwater shrimp (northern prawn) trawl fishery is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
USA
Historically, a small but valuable coldwater shrimp fishery in the northeast included fishermen from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
The fishery has a history of boom and bust cycles. The most recent collapse of the fishery has resulted in fishing moratoriums.
In Alaska, a small coldwater shrimp fishery is conducted using beam and otter trawls.
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