Name: Spot Prawn
Information: This is the largest shrimp in west coast waters of the United States, growing up to 10.5 inches. An interesting characteristic of the animal is that spot prawns change sex as they grow. They spend the first part of their lives as males then change into females. The spot prawn is found from Alaska to southern California. They are harvested with traps that have negligible by catch and cause little habitat damage. The prawn (which is actually a misnomer as it is really a shrimp) sports four bright white spots, hence its name. To spawn, it metamorphoses in mid-life from male to female. This shrimp is abundant and well managed with low by-catch because it is caught with individual traps, not nets. The range for this shrimp is from Alaska to Baja California; Sea of Japan to the Korean Strait. For more information visit Oceans Alive