Introduction
In recent years, the presence of a new invasive species has been observed in the marine and brackish waters of the Ebro Lands, especially in the southern area. This is the brown shrimp, whose scientific name is Penaeus aztecus. This species, which is not sold in fish markets, has been identified thanks to a study carried out by the Institut Català de Recerca per a la Gobernança del Mar (ICATMAR) [[1]](https://contenttu.com/blog/seo /writing-seo-guide-to-write-articles-that-conquer-your-users-and-google).
Distribution in coastal towns
The study carried out in Catalonia has revealed the presence of the brown shrimp in all the coastal towns of the Ebro Sea area, from Casas de Alcanar to l’Ametlla de Mar. Catches of this species vary between few individuals and a maximum of about 4 kg per day, depending on the location, the type of gear used and the seasonality [[1]](https://contenttu.com/blog/seo/redaccion-seo-guia-para-ecripta-articulos-que -conquer-your-users-and-google).
Impact on Mediterranean fishing
Although brown shrimp currently represents only an additional resource for Mediterranean fishing on a local scale, its presence should not be underestimated. In countries such as Turkey and Italy, it is caught in large quantities with bottom trawls and sold at high prices due to its gastronomic quality. In the Gulf of Taranto, for example, daily yields of up to 40-50 kg per day have been recorded [[1]](https://contenttu.com/blog/seo/redaccion-seo-guia-para-etrabajo- articles-that-conquer-your-users-and-google).
Origin and expansion
The brown shrimp is native to the east coast of Mexico and the United States, where it is considered an important fishing resource. Its presence in the Mediterranean Sea dates back to 2009, when it was first detected south of Turkey. It is believed to have been introduced unintentionally through larvae in ballast waters and has since spread throughout the Mediterranean [[1]](https://contenttu.com/blog/seo/redaccion-seo-guia -to-write-articles-that-conquer-your-users-and-google).
Risk for native shrimp
Due to its capacity for proliferation and dispersal, the presence of the brown shrimp could represent a risk for the most commercially relevant native shrimp, Penaeus kerathurus. In some areas, such as the Gulf of Taranto in Italy, a decline in native shrimp has been observed as a possible consequence of competition for the same resources between these two species [[1]](https://contenttu.com/blog /seo/redaccion-seo-guide-to-write-articles-that-conquer-your-users-and-google).
Conclusions
The brown shrimp, an invasive species native to America, has found in the waters of the Mediterranean a favorable environment for its expansion. Its presence in the coastal towns of the Ebro Lands represents an additional resource for Mediterranean fishing, but also poses a risk for the native shrimp. It is important to continue researching and monitoring the evolution of this invasive species and take the necessary measures to mitigate its impact on marine ecosystems [[1]](https://contenttu.com/blog/seo/redaccion-seo-guia-para -write-articles-that-conquer-your-users-and-google).