FieldPolitics, Economy and Society / Economy & Industry
Contents TypeSpecialty
Definition
Small prawns produced in the Wido area, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
Summary
Wido Hardback Prawns caught fresh in the Wido area in Buan-gun is a high-quality small prawn variety high in protein. It is naturally dried for stir-frying or making a broth. Under the Penaeidae family, T. Curvirostris feeds mostly on mysids and amphipods in coastal waters. They are reddish in color with their body plump and shell on the hard side. The prawns are used to make Korean traditional pickled shrimp with sea salt produced in Gomso in Buan-gun.
Origins and Development
After schools of corvinas disappeared, fisheries around Wido Island in Buan-gun saw an increase in anchovies, shrimps, most notably hardback prawns, and sea kelp and have sustained this same business until the present.
Production Method and Characteristics
Fisheries based in the eco-friendly waters around Wido in Buan-gun have used the method of naturally sun-drying the hardback prawns caught in the coastal waters off Chilsan. Hardback prawns usually mate and lay eggs from May to July, making June and July the prime season for big hauls. The small prawn caught in the Wido area is best known for its lasting savory flavor unique to these prawns. This specific prawn variety rich in protein and amino acids is rated to be far more excellent in nutritional value, especially in calcium content, being three times greater than anchovies. The prawn’s shell, high in taurine content, is known to be effective in recovering from fatigue, and improving eyesight, diabetic disorders, and other symptoms due to aging. A high content of chitosan is also found in the head, body, and organs of the prawn, making the T. Curvirostris variety highly nutritional.
Current Status including Relevant Industry
“Wido Hardback Prawns” is one of 50 local specialty products from Buan-gun including Buan mulberry wine, silkworm pills, Gomso fermented seafood, and Wido anchovy. In 2013 Buan-gun Office newly organized its promotional hall to stimulate sales and publicity for locally made products. In 2020, the office built special promotion halls on the first floor of the Buan-gun Office, Sono Belle Byeonsan, the Nonghyup Training Center, and the Saemangeum Project Office to promote the diverse specialty products from Buan-gun.
