Shrimp: Northern

shrimp, pink shrimp, northern shrimp, Atlantic shrimp

Ebi

All species of shrimp are short lived, mature at an early age and produce many young. There is some concern about removing large numbers of Northern shrimp from the food web as they serve as food for many species of fish, especially Greenland halibut (turbot), cod, and occasionally Harp Seals. Trap caught shrimp are a preferred choice as it greatly reduces bycatch and has a lesser impact on marine habitat. Management effectiveness typically varies by region.

In all cases, coldwater, trap caught shrimp are a more sustainable choice than their wild or farmed warm water cousins.

Northern shrimp are short lived, early-maturing fast growers that produce many young, and so are inherently resistant to fishing pressure.

There is concern about the potential impacts of water temperature, fishing gear and the implications of removing shrimp biomass on predator species such as groundfish. There are considerable difficulties in avoiding the catch of smaller shrimp which will have an impact on the stocks in the years to come. For these reasons, the conservation concern is “moderate”.

Trap fisheries for Northern shrimp are not implicated with bycatch and therefore bycatch is not a conservation concern.

The impacts of shrimp fishing using traps is considered benign, this gear type is implicated with minimal habitat effects and currently the scale of this fishery is small, resulting in negligible impacts at the ecosystem level.

There remains some uncertainty in stock status. The Canadian shrimp fisheries are considered effectively managed and comprehensively monitored and enforced.

What kind of shrimp is this?

How was it caught?

Trap caught Northern Shrimp are a more sustainable alternative to trawl caught Northern Shrimp.

Contaminant levels do not warrant a consumption advisory.

Yes. This fishery was certified by the MSC in 2007.