The Dublin Bay Prawn

Nephrops norvegicus, also know as Dublin Bay prawns and Norwegian lobster, are the second most valuable species fished by the Irish fleet. In 2002 landings were worth almost €28 million. Nephrops are also a very important species for the processing industry in Ireland that use prawns to produce the value added product 'scampi'. Marine Institute scientists have spent many years researching the biology and stock dynamics this commercially important species. Nephrops is a widely distributed species but despite its common name, the “Dublin Bay Prawn”, this species is not found in Dublin Bay. It is found, however, in the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea and off the West Coast of Ireland. It is also found from Iceland to Morocco and into the Mediterranean as far as Egypt, occurring at depths from 15m to 800m.Funder: Marine Institut