Crangon crangon
Encyclopedia
Crangon crangon is a commercially important species of shrimp
fished mainly in the southern North Sea
, although also found in the Irish Sea
, Baltic Sea
, Mediterranean Sea
and Black Sea
, as well as off much of Scandinavia
and parts of Morocco's
Atlantic
coast. Its common name
s include brown shrimp, common shrimp, bay shrimp, and sand shrimp, while translation of its French name (or its Dutch equivalent ) sometimes leads to the English version grey shrimp.
Adults are typically 30–50 mm (1.2–2 ) long, although individuals up to 90 mm (3.5 in) have been recorded. The animals have cryptic coloration, being a sandy brown colour, which can be changed to match the environment. They live in shallow water, which can also be slightly brackish
, and feed nocturnally. During the day, they remain buried in the sand to escape predatory bird
s and fish
, with only their antennae
protruding.
Over 37,000 t of Crangon crangon were caught in 1999, with Germany
and the Netherlands
taking over 80% of this total.
is the seafood platter, of which the shrimp plays a vital role. Brown shrimp are often prepared in the potted style
in the UK. In Belgium
, a typical dish is tomaat-garnaal: a tomato filled with shrimps in mayonnaise. In the coastal areas of Belgium, fresh unpeeled shrimp are often served as a snack accompanying beer (typically a sour ale
).
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
fished mainly in the southern North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, although also found in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, as well as off much of Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and parts of Morocco's
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast. Its common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
s include brown shrimp, common shrimp, bay shrimp, and sand shrimp, while translation of its French name (or its Dutch equivalent ) sometimes leads to the English version grey shrimp.
Adults are typically 30–50 mm (1.2–2 ) long, although individuals up to 90 mm (3.5 in) have been recorded. The animals have cryptic coloration, being a sandy brown colour, which can be changed to match the environment. They live in shallow water, which can also be slightly brackish
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
, and feed nocturnally. During the day, they remain buried in the sand to escape predatory bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s and fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, with only their antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
protruding.
Over 37,000 t of Crangon crangon were caught in 1999, with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
taking over 80% of this total.
As food
The common shrimp is prized for is subtle flavour and its soft texture. One of the most famous culinary delights of FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
is the seafood platter, of which the shrimp plays a vital role. Brown shrimp are often prepared in the potted style
Potted shrimps
Potted shrimps are a traditional Lancastrian dish made with brown shrimp flavoured with mace. The dish consists of brown shrimp in mace-flavoured butter, which has set in a small pot. Cayenne pepper and nutmeg may also be included. It is traditionally eaten with bread...
in the UK. In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, a typical dish is tomaat-garnaal: a tomato filled with shrimps in mayonnaise. In the coastal areas of Belgium, fresh unpeeled shrimp are often served as a snack accompanying beer (typically a sour ale
Sour beer
Sour beer is a beer style characterized by an intentionally acidic, tart, sour taste. It is Category 17 of the Beer Judge Certification Program Style Guidelines...
).