If you love sustainable crustaceans, you need to be here! Vancouver’s 2015 Spot Prawn Festival is just around the corner, taking place at False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf. on Sunday, May 17.
What the Heck is a Spot Prawn?
We’re glad you asked. Wild BC spot prawns are sweet and firm, with a delicate flavour. Spot prawn season begins this week, and only lasts for about 2 months, so now’s the time to get excited!
Fun fact: Prawns are hermaphrodites! For the first half of their lives (approximately 2 years) they are male, and then they switch to female.
More Facts:
- Each year, approximately 2,500 metric tonnes of spot prawns are harvested off the coast of British Columbia.
- The method fisherman use to catch spot prawns has minimal impact on other ocean habitat, and very low levels of bycatch (accidental harvesting) of other oceanic species.
- BC’s spot prawns are incredibly popular in Asia, with the vast majority of BC’s commercial catch consumed there.
What Makes Spot Prawns a Sustainable Catch?
- Spot prawn stocks are carefully and sustainably managed
- The number of vessels that can commercially harvest spot prawns is limited
- The number of traps that can be used is also limited
- Females with eggs are returned (live) to the ocean
- Spot prawn populations are closely monitored: when prawn stocks reach a pre-determined level, fisheries are closed
Other Activities
Think this is just about the prawns? Nope! Bring the whole family, and enjoy a wide variety of stuff for kids, too. There will be live music, face painting, and goodies. For the foodie in you, there will be cooking demonstrations put on by top Vancouver chefs, and craft beer and wine tastings from local breweries and vineyards.
Get Your Tickets, Fast!
They’re seriously serious about food and drink, and you should be too. Last year’s tickets for the spot prawn boil sold out by this time, but this year, there are more tickets available! Visit the website HERE to purchase tickets, and learn more about BC spot prawns HERE.
See you Sunday, May 17th!
