Organic Farmed Prawns
Part of our Fish for Tomorrow range
Prawn Farming
The almost insatiable worldwide appetite for prawns has resulted in a booming of the prawn farming industry in several tropical regions. Whilst fulfilling a demand, this has had a seriously detrimental effect on the environment in many of the prawn farm areas. Suitable areas are determined by a number of factors including water temperature, which for prawns to flourish must be above 30 degrees centigrade.
In Ecuador, in 2000, trials were carried out on producing prawns without the accompanying environmental damage. The social impact of the farms was also taken into account and all stakeholders were widely consulted.
The result was a system of farming which minimised environmental damage, and meant a fairer deal for local people, including labour living conditions, land rights, and avoidance of conflict with existing artisan fishermen.
The organic certifier, Naturland, developed a set of organic standards which are used to produce the prawns.
The Main Requirements of Organic Prawn Farming
To achieve organic status a number of conditions must be fulfilled:
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The prawn larvae must be an endemic species to the local environment;
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In the hatcheries, stocking densities must be low to avoid disease and use of anti-biotics, pesticides and minimise use of chemical disinfectants.
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No genetic manipulation of the larvae must take place;
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They must be fed specially formulated organic food which contains no drugs and has raw materials free from GM and artificial chemicals;
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Often in intensive systems, it takes 4 kg of fish meal to produce 1 kg of prawns. Organic systems minimised added protein in the feed, and maximise use of naturally occurring food sources;
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In order to live naturally, the prawns must live in an environment with a mixture of other species, so the whole ecosystem must be in balance. The use of anti-biotics or pesticides would upset that balance, and so are avoided;
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In the growing ponds, stocking densities must be low enough allow the prawns to flourish without artificial oxygenation of the water;
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Environmental impact must be minimised, with regular monitoring of the local environment. Mangrove destruction must be avoided, and regeneration encouraged where appropriate;;
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Any negative social impact of the production system should be minimised by discussions with local groups, etc.
The Product
Organic Frozen Peeled Uncooked King Prawns
The prawns are of the species Litopenaeus vannamei, and are of two sizes 71-90 per kg or the larger 41-50 per kg. Because of their size they can be described as King Prawns.
Frozen peeled and vein pulled raw prawns farmed in Ecuador. They are individually frozen, and therefore can be used in the numbers you want from the freezer.
Cooking is quick and simple, giving the prawns a wide range of uses.
Packed in 250 gms, 500 gms or 10 kg. Also available as Organic Prawn Box.
Grown to the Naturland Organic Standards.
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