Archived – Pacific Prawn and Shrimp

Shrimp are harvested commercially by two means in the Pacific Region: trawl, primarily for pink (Pandalus borealis and Pandalus jordani) and sidestripe (Pandalopsis dispar) shrimp, and traps, primarily for prawns (Pandalus platyceros).

Pink Shrimp (Pandalus borealis)
The pink shrimp is a wide-ranging species. In British Columbia, it occurs chiefly in mainland inlets, probably because water temperatures tend to be lower there. Trawl catches of the species are made on mud bottoms at 54 to 90 m in Burrard Inlet, Howe Sound, and Chatham Sound.

The length of this shrimp is normally 7.5 to 10 cm, but larger individuals may reach as much as 15 cm. The pink shrimp and the smooth pink are similar in colouration, with both species lacking bands or blotches on the legs. The main distinguishing feature of the pink is the sharp spine or lobe that points backwards from the curve of the abdomen.

Sidestripe or Giant Shrimp (Pandalopsis dispar)
The sidestripe occurs in the northeastern Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea to the Oregon coast. In British Columbia, it is caught by trawl in English Bay, Howe Sound, Stuart Channel, Barkley Sound and Chatham Sound, but it rarely enters baited traps. It is generally found on muddy bottoms, at depths of 90 to 201 m.

In size, the sidestripe is second only to the prawn, with large females reaching 20 cm in length. The long antennules and striped abdomen clearly distinguish this shrimp from other species.

Prawn or Spot Shrimp (Pandalus platyceros)
This species is the largest of the local shrimps with large females exceeding 23 cm in total length. Its body colour is usually reddish brown or tan, with white horizontal bars on the carapace, and distinctive white spots on the first and fifth abdominal segments.

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