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Beche De Mer
(Sea Cucumber - Trepang)

Season
Available year round, although supply is affected by the seasonality of northern Prawn fisheries (peaking in autumn).

Size and Weight
Average 250g, but commonly 120-380g with 8-12cm wide head.

The Trawl Industry

The Queensland Trawl Fishery targets several species of prawns, scallops and other species. Trawls alter the substrate cover in the area being swept by the trawl and they catch fish and other bottom-dwelling (benthic) animals as a bycatch. Trawlers take and market a range of bycatch species, including Moreton Bay bugs, blue swimmer crabs, winter whiting, squid, cuttlefish and other species.

The trawl fishery is Queensland's largest commercial fishery with an average annual catch of about 6500 tonnes valued at $100m and 1200 tonnes of scallop meat valued at around $30m (QFMA 1998). The majority of catch is taken within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area with hotspots occurring in Moreton Bay, Townsville region, and Princess Charlotte Bay. Currently, 820 trawl boat licences from QFMA permit participation in the fishery with approximately 600 operating in the Marine Park.

Trawlers can tow either otter or beam trawl nets, travelling across the seabed at slow speeds, mainly between 2.5 and 3.5 knots at various depths. Otter trawls are used primarily for the capture of prawns and scallops, whereas beam trawlers (usually operating inshore and in estuaries, eg. Moreton Bay, Hervey Bay), is used for the capture of prawns (usually, greasyback, school and banana prawns). Beam trawling involves towing of a trawl net with the mouth of the net held open by a rigid frame on skids. Most of the catch goes to the bait market, but banana prawns are sold for human consumption.

How to tell Balmain and Moreton Bay Bugs apart: Balmain is a narrow peninsula and Balmain Bugs’ eyes are narrow, located close together in the centre of their heads. Moreton Bay is a wide bay and Moreton Bay Bugs’ eyes are set broadly apart on either side of their shells. Slipper Lobsters’ eyes are in between, closer to the edges than the centre, but not on the actual edge.

Scientific Name	Thenus orientalis
Location	Northern Half of Australia
Season	All year round.
Size	To 560 grams, but usually around 120g
Australian Species Code	00 700002
Taste, Texture	Sweet delicate taste, medium texture

Sea-Ex Trade Seafood Industry Directory:
Exporters of Moreton Bay Bugs
Importers of Moreton Bay Bugs
Processors of Moreton Bay Bugs
Wholesale Suppliers of Moreton Bay Bugs
Agents for Moreton Bay Bugs

Exporters of Slipper Lobster
Importers of Slipper Lobster
Processors of Slipper Lobster
Wholesale Suppliers of Slipper Lobster
Agents for Slipper Lobster

From the Directory See Also: Moreton Bay Bugs, Balmain Bugs, Lobster, European Lobster, Homarus Lobster, Maine Lobster, Ornatus (Tropical) Lobster, Painted Crayfish, Rock Lobster, Spiny Lobster, Southern Rock Lobster, Western Rock Lobster, Crayfish

See Also:
Moreton Bay Bug (Thenus orientalis) Photographs and Information
Cooking Moreton Bay Bugs | Slipper Lobster Recipes
Commercial Fishery Moreton Bay Bug (Thenus orientalis) Slipper Lobster Buyers Sellers