The Story
The Moreton Bay Bug (named after Moreton Bay in Brisbane Queensland) is a unique species of lobster with many nicknames such as slipper lobster and Balmian bug. The official name of the crustation is Thenus Orientalis. They are found in the tropical and subtropical stretch of Australia from Sharkbay Western Australia to Northern New South Wales. The bugs used to be very cheap and were at the bottom of the barrel in seafood markets until the 70s when they became very popular with wealthy and middle class Australians. From there they slowly became known as one of the the quintessential Australian dishes.