PRAWNS – Endeavour Prawns
Endeavour prawns (Metapenaeus endeavouri — blue variety, and Metapenaeus ensis — red variety) are a distinctive wild-caught prawn species found in tropical and subtropical Australian waters. They are valued for their sweet flavour and firm texture, and while they may appear modest in size and appearance compared with larger prawns, they are highly prized for their eating quality.
Endeavour prawns are harvested in several Australian prawn fisheries, including Queensland’s East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery and northern Australian fisheries such as the Northern Prawn Fishery and Torres Strait Prawn Fishery, where they are taken alongside tiger and other tropical prawn species.
Wild Endeavour prawns reflect the natural productivity of northern oceans, and their seasonal harvest contributes to Queensland’s seafood diversity and local fishing communities.
Eating Quality
Flavour
Sweet and flavoursome
Oiliness
Low
Moisture
Moist
Common Size
Generally smaller compared to Tiger and King Prawns. Size gradings vary from 31/40 to U15.
Texture
Medium and succulent
Flesh Colour
Translucent raw, white with pale orange bands when cooked
Shell
Firm, Medium thickness, easy to peel when cooked
Value Added Products
Smaller 31/40 size are often sold as bait, popular for their size.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g Raw Product
Wild Endeavour prawns are a lean, high-protein seafood option rich in micronutrients and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids
compared with many land-based proteins.
Energy: ~100-110 calories
Protein: ~20-24 g
Total fat: ~1 g
Cholesterol: ~160 mg
Omega-3 (EPA): ~120-150 mg
Omega-3 (DHA): ~160-200 mg
Omega-6 (AA): ~35-50 mg
Other nutrients: Selenium, zinc, phosphorus
All values are approximate and can vary with season, size and environment.
Cooking Tips
boil | barbecue | pan-fry | stir-fry | grill | steam | Shallow fry or tempura
Add to salads, curries or seafood platters
Because of their medium size and firm flesh, Endeavour prawns are particularly well suited to dishes where individual prawns can shine,
such as skewers, salads and stir-fries.
Endeavour prawns have a distinctive taste that stands up well to bold flavours, making them versatile in both simple and
more adventurous dishes.
Seasonality
Endeavour prawns are typically harvested across the warmer months of the year, with peak catch occurring from about March through November in Northern & Central Queensland waters.
Like other tropical prawn species, endeavour prawns breed throughout the year, with reproductive peaks that can vary by region. Their seasonal movements and growth cycles influence when they are most abundant on trawl grounds, making their harvest inherently seasonal and tied to ocean conditions.
Because wild Endeavour prawns are not farmed, the timing and volume of catches can vary from year to year depending on ocean temperature, productivity and weather patterns.
Habitat
Endeavour prawns inhabit sandy and muddy seabed environments in tropical inshore and offshore waters. Adult prawns are demersal – living close to the ocean floor, while juveniles are frequently associated with mud flats and estuarine channels that provide shelter and feeding opportunities.
The blue and red varieties differ slightly in habitat preference, with blue endeavour prawns often found on sandy or mixed sand-mud bottoms and red endeavour prawns more commonly on mud substrates.
These habitat associations are critical to their life cycle and contribute to the quality and condition of the prawns caught. Healthy coastal ecosystems, particularly areas with soft seabed habitats, support juvenile growth and help maintain natural prawn populations.
Important Features
Endeavour prawns are a wild species and are not farmed in Australia. Their availability reflects natural ocean conditions and seasonal cycles rather than continuous production.
Fishing primarily occurs at night, aligning with natural prawn behaviour and helping improve catch efficiency and product quality.
Endeavour prawns are commonly harvested alongside tiger and banana prawns in managed trawl fisheries, contributing to the diversity of Queensland’s wild prawn supply.
Did you know?
Endeavour prawns include two recognised types – the blue endeavour prawn (Metapenaeus endeavouri) and the red endeavour prawn (Metapenaeus ensis), differentiated by tail colour and subtle body features but both enjoying similar habitats and eating qualities.
Although smaller than some other commercial prawns, Endeavour prawns are among the most commonly caught wild prawns in northern Australian waters and make up a large proportion of the bycatch in prawn trawl fisheries, particularly in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait.
Endeavour prawns grow fast, generally reaching maturity within about six months, and have a typical lifespan of around two years.
Learn More ...
To read more about the Stock Status and Management controls for the Endeavour Prawn in the East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery, click below.