Introduction
A new species of prawn, known as coffee prawn, has been detected in the marine and brackish waters of the Terres de l’Ebre, especially in the southern area, which includes La Ràpita and the Casas d’Alcanar. This information has been provided by the Generalitat, which has carried out a study in collaboration with the Catalan Research Institute for the Governance of the Sea (ICATMAR) [[1]](https://www.ara.cat/ language/5-arguments-5-tricks-don’t-change-language-don’t-incomodi_1_4544047.html).
Characteristics of the coffee shrimp
The coffee shrimp, with the scientific name Penaeus aztecus, is not marketed independently in the markets. Until now, it has been sold together with local prawn or white prawn. However, this new species is considered an invasive species
Presence in Catalonia
The study has mainly focused on the area of the Ebro Sea, from the Casas d’Alcanar to the Ametlla de Mar, since this natural environment offers ideal conditions for the expansion of new species from warm waters The results show that the brown shrimp is present in all localities, with catches varying between a few individuals and a maximum of about 4 kg per day, depending on the locality, the type of gear used and the seasonality [[1 ]](https://www.ara.cat/llengua/5-arguments-5-trucs-no-canviar-lengua-no-incomodi_1_4544047.html).
Commercialization and consequences
Currently, the coffee shrimp represents an additional resource for Mediterranean fisheries, although only on a local scale. In countries such as Turkey and Italy, it is caught in large quantities with bottom trawls and trawls, and is sold at high prices for its gastronomic quality. However, the presence of this new species could pose a risk to the most important native shrimp, Penaeus kerathurus. Some fishermen have already noticed a decrease in the native prawn as a possible consequence of the competition between the two species
Origin and dispersion
The coffee shrimp originates from the east coast of Mexico and the United States, and was introduced into the Mediterranean Sea in 2009 in southern Turkey. Since then, it has spread throughout the Mediterranean thanks to its high capacity for proliferation and dispersion [[1]](https://www.ara.cat/llengua/5-arguments-5-trucs-no- change-language-no-incomodi_1_4544047.html).
conclusion
In summary, the coffee shrimp is a new invasive species that has been detected in Terres de l’Ebre. This species, originally from Mexico and the United States, has been introduced into the Mediterranean Sea and represents a risk to the native shrimp. Measures must be taken to control their spread and protect local species