Pandalus platyceros

Pandalus platyceros, commonly known as the Spot Prawn (or Spot Shrimp), is considered a shrimp as it is of the Infraorder Caridea.^[2][1] Spot Prawns are sometimes referred to by a regionally qualified name such as a BC Spot Prawn,^[3] California Spot Prawn,^[4] and Alaskan Prawn^[5] among others.^[6]

Pandalus platyceros
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Decapoda
Suborder:	Pleocyemata
Infraorder:	Caridea
Family:	Pandalidae
Genus:	Pandalus
Species:	P. platyceros
Binomial name
Pandalus platyceros Brandt, 1851[1]

The Spot Prawn ranges throughout the northern Pacific Ocean,^[7] (Unalaska Island, Alaska to San Diego, California), and also from the Sea of Japan to Korea Strait.^[8][9] While found in depths of 3.7 meters to 457.2 meters, Spot Prawn are most often found around 109.7 meters below sea level.^[10]

Description

Spot Prawn reach up to 27 centimeters in length, with females often longer than their male counterparts. Spot Prawn have a translucent, reddish carapace with white stripes and pereopods and antennae which are banded dark and light red.^[11] Their first and fifth abdominal segments have white spots.^[10]

They are protandric hermaphrodites, meaning they first turn into males, with their appendix masculina lengthening while maturing and then gradually shortening until they turn into females.^[12]

Fishing Harvests

Spot Prawn harvests are relatively short lasting only 6-8 weeks from May to June. The season opens in the Spring because it is the new lifecycle for Spot Prawns.^[13]

The largest Spot Prawn harvests occur in British Columbia, Canada where approximately 2,450 metric tonnes are harvested annually, with about 65% of the harvest coming from the waters between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland.^[14] BC Spot Prawns are considered sustainable having been recognized by the Vancouver Aquarium’s OceanWise program and as a “Good Alternative” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.^[15]

The largest US harvests occur in Alaska which limits annual harvest to under 800,000 lbs (Approximately 363 tonnes).^[16] The majority of the continental US landings occur in southern California, though fishing activity extends north to the Oregon border.^[17] California produced approximately 100 metric tonnes annually.^[18]

Steamed spot prawns served in Vancouver, Canada

Culinary Reputation and Global Appeal

Spot Prawns are renowned around the world for their flavour, freshness, and quality. Their meat has a sweet delicate flavour and firm texture.^[19] They are often sold in Japan as 'Botan Ebi' despite not being one of the 2 traditional domestic shrimp (Toyama ebi and Humpback Shrimp). This is because the Spot Prawn is a close relative of domestic Botan ebi and they can only be told apart by examining the head closely. Furthermore, one does not taste better than the other.^[20]