What is a Moreton Bay bug?
A Moreton Bay bug is a flat, lobster-like crustacean, also called a slipper lobster, found in the waters of northern Australia. It is named after Moreton Bay near Brisbane and is a prized seafood delicacy.
Despite the name, a bug is not an insect. Moreton Bay bugs have a wide, flat shell and short, paddle-shaped antennae, with no large claws. They live on sandy and muddy seabeds.
They are caught mainly as part of prawn trawling off Queensland and northern New South Wales. Their sweet, firm tail meat is often compared to lobster.
On the menu
Bugs are usually split in half and grilled with butter and garlic, added to pasta, or served cold in seafood platters. They are a popular choice for Christmas seafood in Queensland.
A related species, the Balmain bug, is found in southern waters around New South Wales and is named after the Sydney suburb of Balmain.
Moreton Bay bugs usually cost more than prawns because fewer are caught, and they are sold whole, cooked or raw, at fish markets. Buyers look for bugs that feel heavy for their size, a sign of plenty of meat.
Moreton Bay itself is a large, sheltered bay protected by Moreton and North Stradbroke islands, and it supports important fisheries as well as dugongs and turtles.
Did You Know?
Moreton Bay bugs are sometimes called bay lobsters in restaurants overseas.