Supermarket prawns are safe for us to eat but did you know that they should never be used as bait?
Store-bought prawns are a delicious gourmet treat and both Australian and imported prawns are safe for human consumption. However, there's a small chance that imported prawns could carry exotic diseases that don't affect people but could harm our marine environment.
If you enjoy fishing and prawns are your preferred choice of bait, you should catch them yourself or purchase them from a bait shop where they have been specially treated. Our video further explains why store bought prawns should never be used as bait.
In June, we published the Review of the biosecurity risks of prawns imported from all countries for human consumption.
The review outlines necessary measures for protecting our domestic prawn producers, native crustaceans, and aquatic environments.
With summer and the festive season approaching, enjoy filling your plate with store bought prawns. However, if you are going fishing, don't thread them on your hook, put them on your sandwich instead!
