- Certifier :
- MRAG Americas, Inc.
- Certified status :
- Certified
- Certified since :
- 07 Nov 2012
- Certificate expires :
- 17 Jul 2028
Overview
Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.
When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue endeavour prawn (Metapenaeus endeavouri) | 2021 | 266 |
| Grooved tiger prawn (P. semisulcatus) | 2021 | 957 |
| Indian white prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus) | 2021 | 565 |
| Brown tiger prawn (Penaeus esculentus) | 2021 | 341 |
| Red endeavour prawn (Metapenaeus ensis) | 2021 | 170 |
| Banana prawn (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis) | 2021 | 3,096 |
Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.
Eligibility, client groups and vessel lists
A fishery may choose to define the members of the fishery certificate. These members can be vessels or other client group members (e.g. companies that own vessels and/or companies that are named as eligible to handle certified product covered within the fishery certificate scope). Please refer to the fishery certificate statement on additional product specific eligibility criteria (e.g. product eligibility limitations, eligibility date, exclusive points of landing and the point where Chain of Custody certificate is required). Please consult the fishery Public Certification Report for product eligibility rationale.
| Documents | Published on | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel List | 29 Oct 2019 | 1 files |
About this Fishery
Prawns from the Australia Northern prawn fishery served on plate © MSC
Australia’s largest prawn fishery covers 771,000km2 of tropical waters off Australia’s northern coast. More than 50 vessels catch several different species.
White banana prawns form dense aggregations ('boils') that are located by spotters in planes, who direct the trawlers to them. The highest catches are taken in areas offshore from nursery areas based around mangrove forests. Trawl times are short, lasting 20-30 minutes.
Tiger prawns are taken mainly at night. Although tiger prawn fishing grounds are often close to those of banana prawns, the highest catches are around seagrass habitats. Tiger prawn fishers also catch red endeavour and king prawns.
Red-legged banana prawns are caught in deeper waters during neap tides, with fishing only occurring for up to 14 days a month on average.
Prawn trawling is an active fishing method which involves towing a conical-shaped net spread open by two or four steel or timber 'otter boards' over the seabed, commonly called otter trawling. All nets in the fishery are fitted with approved devices to exclude turtles and to reduce bycatch.
Each fishing season is limited, and other restrictions may be imposed to ensure the sustainability of the stock. For example, the red-legged banana prawn sub-fishery was closed during the first fishing season from 2007 to 2010.
Discover the story of the Northern Prawn Fishery:
Market Information
The fishery supplies fresh and frozen prawns in Australia, including to leading supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths. It also exports frozen prawns, mainly to China and Japan.