WASH BROWN SHRIMP

In 2020, the brown shrimp fishery in the Wash became the first UK shrimp fishery to achieve MSC certification. The fishery lands 95% of the brown shrimp fished in UK waters meaning that almost all UK brown shrimp is now certified against the MSC Fisheries Standard.

The fishery, managed by Shrimp Producers Organisation Ltd. employs a fleet of up to 50 small inshore fishing vessels, mostly based in the Wash ports of King’s Lynn and Boston, which fish for shrimp using light beam trawls.

Typically, each boat employs two or three crew, with fishing trips lasting one to three days. The catch is sorted and cooked on board, before being landed into King’s Lynn for further processing before onwards sale, predominantly to Dutch markets but also supplying domestic demand.

Two King’s Lynn-based shellfish processors, Lynn Shellfish and John Lake Shellfish Ltd. are responsible for processing and onward sale of the brown shrimp. The factories provide employment for local people in addition to the fishermen involved in catching the shrimp.

The King’s Lynn-based Shrimp Producers’ Organisation Ltd backed the certification bid, which was also supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Eastern IFCA has supported the process as an advisor and through working closely with shrimp fishery stakeholders in the development of sustainable management measures.