Crustacean
Charente Prawns
Penaeus japonicus
Out of season
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Fishing zones
Livestock farming
Origin
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Minimum size
Description
This is a large, robust shrimp with a well-toothed rostrum (usually 8 to 10 teeth on top). It is very easily identified by its zebra- or tiger-striped pattern. The body is beige or cream with broad brown or dark brown transverse bands. The uropods (tail paddles) display magnificent colors: a gradient of bright blue, yellow, and red at the tips. In farms in Charente, they are generally harvested when they reach 15 to 20 cm, but females can grow up to 27 cm in the wild.
Habitat
In France, its habitat is very specific. It is extensively farmed in the 'claires' (former salt marshes) along the Atlantic coast. It requires sandy mud bottoms where it can burrow during the day to protect itself from light and predators. It is a nocturnal species. It emerges from the mud at dusk to feed on small invertebrates and organic detritus found in the marshes. It requires warm waters in summer (between 20°C and 25°C) and high salinity, making the Charente marshes particularly suitable between May and October.
Distribution
It does not reproduce naturally along our coastline because the water is too cold in winter. It is imported as larvae (spat) and raised exclusively in coastal marshes, mainly in Charente-Maritime (Marennes-Oléron) and to a lesser extent in Vendée or the Médoc.