August 01, 2019
Today is an exciting day for Austral Fisheries as it marks the beginning of tiger prawn season for our northern prawn fleet, with Austral’s ten prawn fishing vessels and their crew set to spend the next four months (August to November) in search of the prized Skull Island Tiger Prawn.
Tiger prawn season follows on from banana prawn season, with the latter running from April to mid-June. If you’re familiar with wild prawn fishing, you’ll know it’s a physically and mentally challenging occupation at the best of times, so the six week break between each season gave our crew a much needed chance to reset and recharge. As of tonight, however, it’s all hands on deck as we look to make the most of the four-month window available each year to catch the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified, sustainable tiger prawn.
The reason for this restriction and the limited four-month window is to ensure the continued sustainability of tiger prawns, with the remaining eight months of the year left to allow juvenile prawns to mature and for stocks to replenish. The Northern Prawn Fishery is managed by setting the total amount of net that can be used in a season along with adjustments to the length of the fishing season. This is different to many other fisheries managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), which are often managed by setting the total amount of allowable catch for each target species.
Skull Island Tiger Prawns - Behind the Brand
Only premium sized tiger prawns are picked to become branded Skull Island Tiger Prawns (Skullies). Skullies are sought after by renowned Chefs around the world for their unique taste profile as much as their robust sustainability credentials.
It is the unique branding of Skull Island Tiger Prawns that also appeals to Chefs and restaurateurs. With a pirate-like look and feel that brings with it an air of mystery and intrigue, Skullies add an element of intrigue to kitchens and restaurant menus around the world.
“As a Chef I get excited about products that deliver that WOW factor and with Skull Island Tiger Prawns, you get the WOW factor in buckets. Not only are they impressive in size, their texture is firm and the flavour superb. And they’re 100% sustainable! Ticks all the boxes.”
Ben O’Donoghue – Billykart West End
Where is Skull Island?
Believe it or not, Skull Island is a real island. Located in Australia’s Northern Territory, Skull Island resides within the pristine Gulf of Carpentaria as part of the Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands in King Ash Bay, at the mouth of the McArthur River.
Spectacular sunsets, low-level morning glory clouds, ancient rock formations and turquoise tidal movements are synonymous with the region.
The Hero In The Pan
Skull Island Tiger Prawns are an excellent source of high quality protein, along with several important vitamins and minerals that support good health. They are low in calories, contain no carbohydrates and are jam packed with heart-healthy, omega-3 fatty acids.
The Skull Island Tiger is a wild brown prawn which carries a unique and distinctive flavour profile and texture, reflective of the environment from which it comes.
It is characterised by a rich, savoury and intensely shellfish flavour with light mushroom notes and a lingering, deep umami aftertaste.
Cooking with the shell on or in a crumb or coating, using lower heat preparations and ‘resting’ after cooking will deliver a distinctively firm, yet yielding texture with meat-like depth and mouthfeel.
A preferred prawn for use in Japanese tempura, the Skull Island Tiger Prawn is equally at home in other Asian and Western food preparations, responding well to strong flavour accompaniments such as soy, ginger, garlic and chilli.
Sustainability and Beyond
We are proud to be recognised for our responsible fishing practises and continuous efforts in maintaining our environmentally friendly, sustainable fishing methods.
Skull Island Tiger Prawns caught in the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) are independently certified as sustainable and well managed by the Marine Stewardship Council. Beyond looking after the sustainability of prawn stocks for future generations, Skullies are also certified as carbon neutral under the Australian Government Carbon Neutral Program.
Each year we plant tens of thousands of native Australian trees in the Yarra Yarra biodiversity corridor to offset our carbon dioxide emissions. We also employ Turtle Excluder Devices and By-catch Reduction Devices to exclude more non-target species.
Crew Safety
In the week prior to the season commencing, Austral Fisheries conducts crew safety briefings in Cairns with all crew in attendance. It is mandatory that all crew complete online safety modules as part of Austral’s Learning Management System (LMS), and crew are briefed on all matters pertaining to safety at sea.
Given the nature of the work, the fishing industry is one of the higher-risk industries one can work in. Austral Fisheries take this very seriously, and crew safety and training is a key point of focus to ensure that crew and Skippers are equipped with the knowledge and tools to safely carry out the work and assist those who may suffer an injury.
We wish our entire fleet a safe and successful journey, and extend a sincere thank you to everyone involved in helping to prepare for the season.