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Brown shrimp

Quality mark Cultivation
/Keurmerk Wild
Green
Second choice
Avoid
Welzijn
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General

Shrimp

Shrimp is a type of crustaceans with elonged bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion. Under the broader definition, shrimp may be synonymous with prawn. Covering the stalk-eyed swimming crustaceans with long muscular tails long whiskers and slender legs. Any small crustaceans that resemble a shrimp are called one. The habitat of the shrimp covers all waters, near the shore, rivers, lakes and in the deep sea. There are several types of shrimp on the dutch market. Wild shrimps from colder waters like the brown shrimp and the northern prawn are in general a bit smaller. Big shrimps or prawns also referred to as ‘gamba’, are most often imported from tropical areas, where they are farmed.

Brown shrimp

The brown shrimp, also known as the common shrimp, bay shrimp or sand shrimp, is a small shrimp with an average length of 3-5 centimetres. This species can be found in almost all European coastal waters with sandy and silty bottoms. The brown shrimp is most active at night when foraging and bury themselves in the substrate during the day. This species is one of the three species of shrimp that is fished most in the North Sea. Shrimp are sorted and boiled on board of the vessel after which they are transported to Morocco where they are peeled.

 

Brown shrimp

Crangon crangon
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, north-east (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Beam trawl, Bottom trawls

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Explanation assessment

The North Sea fishery on brown or Dutch shrimp of the Danish, German and Dutch fishermen has been MSC-certified in December 2017. It deals with the catch of 440 ships, a good 95% of the total shrimp catch in the North Sea. Brown shrimp is mainly caught with a beam trawl. This catching method is not undisputed. In this fishery there is a considerable amount of bycatch of mainly undersized flatfish, but also of non-commercial fish species, crabs and other invertebrate animals. The authorities have not determined a catch quota. That is why the fishermen have agreed of restricting measures between themselves. Next to that, they are also going to reduce their bycatch and avoid vulnerable areas in the North Sea.

 

Brown shrimp

Crangon crangon
Origin

Europe, inland waters
Deelgebieden: North Sea

Farming- / Catch method

Beam trawl, Bottom trawls

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

Brown or common shrimp is caught with a beam trawl. With this catching method there is quite some bycatch of mainly undersizedUndersized fish:
Fish smaller than a prescribed minimum size. These sizes are determined per species and per country. For Europe, a minimum landing size applies to all EU Member States. 
young flatfish, but also of non-commercial fish species, crabs and other invertabrates. Especially the bycatch of young flatfish is seen as a problem.

The brown shrimp is an important link in the [food chain] and serves as a food source of many species (e.g. cod and whiting). The effect of large scale collection of brown shrimp on these species are unclear.

The shrimp fishery is barely managed right now. The brown shrimp has a good resistance to a high [fishing pressure], but management is needed to reduce the bycatch and negative effects on the seabed.

 

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.