Nansha Giant River Prawn

Nansha Giant River Prawn

　　Giant River Prawn – Guangzhou Nansha Shifeng Aquaculture Farmers’ Professional Cooperative

　　The variety we are applying with is the Giant River Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man), also known as the Malaysian prawn, freshwater scampi, whiteleg prawn, money prawn, Wansi prawn, and so on. It is often hailed as the “King of Freshwater Prawns.” This is a large species of freshwater prawn, native to Southeast Asia. It boasts advantages such as fast growth, a wide diet, high nutritional value in its meat, and a short farming cycle. Since the 1960s, when aquaculture of Giant River Prawns began, their cultivation has developed rapidly and is now quite common across Southeast Asian countries and other regions. China introduced this species in 1976, and it is now farmed in over ten provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang. Average yields can reach 70–100 kilograms per mu, delivering notable economic returns. Originally concentrated along the coast of Ecuador, it is currently one of the three most widely farmed shrimp species in the world. With its thin shell and plump body, the prawn offers tender and delicious meat that is rich in nutrients. In addition to the typical flavor of freshwater prawns, mature Giant River Prawns have a gonad-filled head and thorax that delivers a uniquely rich taste reminiscent of crab roe. Each 100 grams of prawn meat contains 20.6 grams of protein, 0.7 grams of fat, along with various vitamins and essential trace elements for the human body, making it a high-protein aquatic product. The Giant River Prawn is a fast-growing, diet-diverse, and nutritious economic shrimp species. It grows large, reaching up to 40 centimeters, but is not tolerant of low temperatures, thriving best in water temperatures between 20–34°C and requiring high levels of dissolved oxygen. As an omnivorous crustacean, it shows a preference for animal-based food. For artificial farming, feed should contain approximately 37–38% crude protein, with about 20% animal protein and 17–18% plant protein. Newly hatched Giant River Prawns measure 1.7–2.0 millimeters in length and can grow to around 3 centimeters in two months. When stocked at around 3 centimeters, they can reach an average weight of about 30 grams after five months of farming. Fresh prawns can be prepared in dishes such as braised prawns, pan-fried white prawns, sautéed prawn slices, lute-shaped prawns, stir-fried prawn meat, and the Cantonese delicacy of raw prawn sashimi. Processed products include dried shrimp and shrimp chips.

　　The Cantonese-style raw prawn sashimi showcases the essence of the prawn, revealing its vibrant array of colors—so much so that locals refer to it as “Colorful Giant River Prawns.”