ADRIATIC SHRIMPS - SCAMPI

Let's talk about shrimps!

Once heavily hunted, today their presence has been restored after a period of catch restrictions, shrimps have certainly found their way from the traps and nets in Kvarner and the Velebit Channel, to the plates of true gourmands.

Therefore, you should not hesitate on getting your fingers dirty by cleaning these delicious Adriatic shrimp tails for a good buzara, or just the grill!

Shrimps are actually a species of sea crab that lives at depths of 200-800 meters, although the first inhabitants can be found at 20 meters. In the Velebitski kanal (Velebit Channel), situated in the northern Adriatic, where the largest specimen from the Guinness Book of Records was caught {43 cm long and 350 grams in weight}, shrimps are most often hunted at a depth of 45-60 meters.

But how do these delicious and interesting animals live? Shrimps reside in holes dug in the muddy bottom, and the holes are usually 10 cm in diameter and about 1 m long. Shrimps reside in such dwellings during the day, while at dusk they go out in search of food. At greater depths, where there is less light, they are also active during the day. They are known for not migrating but also even being extremely territorial and they aggressively defend their territory and the hole in which they reside. They move along the bottom of the sea by walking, but they are also good swimmers. They mostly live a solitary life, although sometimes they share their living space. Shrimps reproduce once a year and the female lays eggs attached to the legs for 8-9 months… They are hunted with nets but also with a trap tool„ in Croatian known by the name vrša.

Especially appreciated for its distinctive taste is the Kvarner shrimp, which is hunted in the northern Adriatic. Once heavily hunted, today their presence has been restored after a period of catch restrictions, shrimps have certainly found their way from the traps and nets in Kvarner and the Velebit Channel, to the plates of true gourmands.

Therefore, you should not hesitate on getting your fingers dirty by cleaning these delicious Adriatic shrimp tails for a good buzara, or just the grill!