There’s a new shrimp on the block – and it might soon claw its way from the rivers of Asia to groceries and restaurants worldwide. The Giant River Prawn or Ulang is well-known to most aquaculturists. One of the biggest challenges is that Ulang are familiar mostly to Asian consumers, instead of a truly cosmopolitan market. Unlike Whiteleg Shrimp and Tiger Prawns, Ulang have yet to become mainstays of the global seafood industry. The freshwater prawns are already replacing Tiger Prawns in some areas. “In Thailand, Ulang are now being used as substitutes for Tiger Prawns when making Tom Yam soup,” said Maria Rowena Eguia of SEAFDEC an international body pushing for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

Ulang farmers target global shrimp market. (2019, October 6). The Philippine Star, p. B3.