AIR TRANSPORT OF LIVE KURUMA PRAWNS (PENAEUS-JAPONICUS) TEMPERATURE CONTROL IMPROVES SURVIVAL

Survival of kuruma prawns Penaeus japonicus air-freighted from Brisban e to Tokyo was compared with survival of prawns stored under controlle d conditions. Premium prices are achieved when the survival rate of pr awns arriving at the market is reliably in excess of 95%. Survival was highest when prawns travelled at temperatures between 12 and 15-degre es-C but survival at 10-degrees-C improved as winter approached. Prawn s survived out of water longer in winter than in early autumn. This ga ve Australian prawns an advantage because other kuruma prawns at the J apanese market in July to August were acclimatised to the northern sum mer.