All speciesSpencer Gulf premium

King Prawns

The wild-caught Western King Prawn from South Australia's Spencer Gulf is widely regarded as one of the world's finest — clean, sweet, and on a tightly-managed quota.

Melicertus latisulcatus
Flavour: Sweet, briny, with a snap when fresh — the benchmark Aussie prawn

Four reasons to choose local

Health

  • No sulphites required — natural sodium levels only
  • Zero antibiotic exposure — wild-caught from clean Gulf waters
  • High-quality protein with iodine and B12

Economy

  • Eyre Peninsula towns built on the prawn fleet
  • 39 licensed Spencer Gulf vessels — tightly capped
  • Major export earnings fund the science underpinning quotas

Environment

  • Bycatch Reduction Devices and TEDs mandatory in trawls
  • Seasonal closures protect spawning aggregations
  • Independently assessed as sustainable

Taste

  • Snap-frozen on board to lock in sweetness
  • Distinctive briny finish from clean Gulf waters
  • The benchmark by which other prawns are judged

Sourcing

King Prawns is exclusively wild-caught.

Where it comes from

King Prawns is most strongly associated with these 4 Australian regions:

Nutrition (per 100g)

How King Prawns compares to imported equivalents on the headline nutrients consumers care about.

Protein18.6g17.2g
Selenium33µg24µg
Iodine35µg22µg
Zinc1.6mg1.2mg
Vitamin B121.8µg1.3µg

Seasonality

When to enjoy King Prawns at its peak.

Janavailable
Febavailable
Margood
Aprgood
Maypeak
Junpeak
Julpeak
Augpeak
Seppeak
Octpeak
Novgood
Decavailable
Peak Good Available Off-season

How to cook it

Four go-to preparations for King Prawns that respect the fish — short cooks, clean flavours, no over-doing it.

Raw (sashimi)

Spencer Gulf prawns sashimi-grade — peel, devein, dress with lime + chilli.

BBQ shell-on

Drizzle with olive oil + salt, hot grill 90 sec each side, finish with lemon.

Garlic butter

Peeled, hot pan, butter + lots of garlic + parsley, 2 min total. Crusty bread.

Salt & pepper

Cantonese-style: corn-flour dust, deep fry 2 min, toss with chilli + spring onion.

Australian vs imported — at a glance

Australian wild King Prawns from Spencer Gulf vs farmed imported prawns from Vietnam, India, and China.

Australia
Spencer Gulf King Prawns
South Australia
🇦🇺 Local
Protein (per 100g)18.6g
Sodium LevelNatural
Preservatives AddedNone
Antibiotic ResiduesZero tolerance
Farming StandardsStrict regulation
TraceabilityFull chain
Price per 100g~$5.00
Overall rating: Spencer Gulf King Prawns score 9.5/10 — globally recognised as among the world's finest.
vs
Asia
Imported Prawns
Vietnam / India / China
Protein (per 100g)17.2g
Sodium LevelOften elevated
Preservatives AddedSulphites common
Antibiotic ResiduesSometimes detected
Farming StandardsVariable
TraceabilityLimited
Price per 100g~$2.50
Overall rating: Imported prawns score 5.2/10 — significant variation in quality, additives, and ethics.

Read the full comparison →

The risks of the imported version

Typically imported from: Vietnam, India, China, Thailand

  • Sulphite preservatives — major allergen, mandatory disclosure when used
  • Antibiotic and antifungal residues regularly detected at the border
  • Pond construction has driven mangrove loss across SE Asia
  • Documented forced-labour cases in parts of the Thai supply chain

See the full case against imported seafood →

How to buy it

🔍
Look for:

Look for "Wild Australian Prawn" with a region — Spencer Gulf, Exmouth, Shark Bay, Banana Prawn (Gulf of Carpentaria).

From 1 July 2026, every restaurant menu in Australia must show A (Australian), I (Imported), or M (Mixed) for each seafood dish. Read the law →

Sources for this page

  1. FSANZ chemical residues in food Food Standards Australia New Zealand
  2. FAO mangrove loss data Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
  3. AP Pulitzer-winning seafood investigation Associated Press (2015)