Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) are found in the Northwest Atlantic from Baffin Bay south to the Gulf of Maine, often between 150 and 600 meters deep on soft and muddy bottoms. Shrimp larvae are pelagic and spend approximately 3 to 4 months in the water column before moving to the ocean's bottom to live as adults. The Northern Shrimp lives on average between 6-8 years and grows to about 16 centimeters in total length, allowing harvest to occur after 17 millimeters in growth length of their carapace (approximately 3 years) (DFO, 2018). The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) helps to manage and co-manage the Northern Shrimp stock, including Scallop Fishing Area (SFA) 1 (in NAFO subarea 1), SFA 7, and division 3M (DFO, 2018).

Separate stocks of Northern prawn have not been clearly defined and may represent a single metapopulation within the Northwest Atlantic. However, some differences provide a basis for delineating assessment and management units. Genetic differences have been found between shrimp in Div. 3LNO and those in Div. 3M and the Gulf of Maine, but not from those further north. It should be noted that fishing for shrimp in 3LNO has historically been confined primarily to division 3L.

Additional work is ongoing on clarifying the genetic relationships (NAFO 2015)​. Although both Canada and Denmark (in respect of Greenland and Faroe Islands) are contracting parties to NAFO, who is responsible for managing the stock, Denmark has set unilateral TACs in recent years (NAFO 2015), and Canada fishes only within its own EEZ in area 3L (Intertek Moody Marine, 2011) so are here considered as distinct management units.

Besides ten assessment units in Canadian waters: three other assessment units are currently considered in the NW Atlantic: Northern prawn – Western Greenland, Northern prawn – Flemish Cap and Northern prawn – Gulf of Maine.