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There are several hundred species of crustaceans commonly called shrimps or prawns. Of these, there are three main categories imported into New Zealand. Black Tiger and Fresh Water prawns are cultivated in estuaries and ponds, while Salt Water includes all the various species harvested at sea.
 Prawns inhabit salt and brackish fresh water, and are mostly found on shallow seafloors, where they feed on small animals and plants. Only 15 years ago, nearly all commercialized shrimp were captured from the oceans. This harvesting became more seasonal and unpredictable in the late 1980s, and this led to the development of aquaculture, where brackish estuarine water was allowed to flow into croplands and man-made ponds, bringing with it crustacean fry, which would feed and grow on plankton and other vegetation.
 By 1993, 30% of the world's shrimp production came from semi-intensive and intensive aquaculture, and it is expected that in the year 2000, cultured shrimp will surpass harvested shrimp production. The progression of cultured shrimp production has been facilitated both by evolving technologies and expanding pond areas, and has been encouraged by increasing demand from high-income countries.
Asian shrimp and prawn farms use only about eight of the warm-sea or brackish water species. About 60% of Asian farmed shrimp production are from the black tiger prawns (Panaeus monodon), and a further 25% from fresh water prawns (Penaeus chinensis).
Prawns are graded by size, the larger prawns usually attracting a higher price. Size is measured either by the number of pieces per lb (count per lb), or number of pieces per kilo (count per kg). |
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Prawns are imported into New Zealand in a number of forms |
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1. Whole raw prawns - frozen whole, and glazed with water to protect the prawn from freezer burn.
2. Whole cooked prawns - cooked in the shell, frozen, and glazed with water to protect the prawn from freezer burn.
3. Prawn cutlets - the head and most of the body shell is removed, leaving only the tail fin and adjacent shell segment attached. The product is then frozen in water in blocks, or individually quick frozen (IQF) and sprayed with water, to protect the product from freezer burn.
4. Prawn meat - all shell is removed, and the product processed in the same way as cutlets.
5. Peeled and cooked shrimps - the shell is removed, and the product is cooked in sophisticated steam cookers, individually quick frozen in nitrogen freezing tunnels, and sprayed with water to protect the product from freezer burn. |
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B l a c k T i g e r
 Black tiger prawns have distinctive black stripes on the body, which turn bright red on cooking. The flesh of the black tiger is firm, but, when farmed, have a relatively bland flavour. |
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| Black Tiger Whole Prawns |
| Packed |
12 x 1kg semi IQF |
| Sizes |
13/15, 16/20, 20/30, 30/40, 40/50, 50/60, 60/70 |
| Graded |
Count per Kg |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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| Black Tiger Cutlets |
| Packed |
6 x 2kg block frozen, 10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
13/15, 16/20, 21/25, 26/30, 31/40 |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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| Black Tiger Meat |
| Packed |
6 x 2kg block frozen,10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
20/40, 40/60, 60/80 |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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| Black Tiger Peeled & Cooked |
| Packed |
10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
30/60, 60/90, 90/120, 100/200 |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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F r e s h W a t e r
 Fresh water prawns have large heads and appendages, and the flesh is reasonably flavoured, with a moist texture |
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| Fresh Water Whole Prawns |
| Packed |
12 x 1kg semi IQF |
| Sizes |
26/30, 30/40 |
| Graded |
Count per Kg |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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| Fresh Water Cutlets |
| Packed |
6 x 2kg block frozen, 10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
16/20, 21/25, 26/30 |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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| Fresh Water Meat |
| Packed |
6 x 2kg block frozen, 10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
21/30, 31/40, 41/50, 51/60, 61/70,71/90, 80/120 |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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S a l t W a t e r
A number of species are caught at sea, by trawlers with nets, and all are included in this general descriptive category. These species include Ocean Black Tiger, White Tiger, Flower, and Pink Tigers. |
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| Salt Water Cutlets |
| Packed |
6 x 2kg block frozen,10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
13/15, 16/20, 21/25, 26/30, 31/40 |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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| Salt Water Meat |
| Packed |
6 x 2kg block frozen, 10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
20/40, 40/60, 60/80 |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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| Pink Tiger Peeled & Cooked |
| Packed |
10 x 1kg IQF |
| Sizes |
30/60, 60/90, 90/120, 100/200, 500/300, 300/500, All Purpose |
| Graded |
Count per lb |
| Country of origin |
Thailand |
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