Notes on the Spreading of Penaeus aztecus Ives 1891 (Decapoda, Penaeidae) in the Mediterranean Sea and on Its Repeated Misidentifications in the Region

Abstract

The shrimp Penaeus aztecus, native to the western Atlantic, was first reported in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in 2010. New records, from different Mediterranean localities, multiplied in the following years. The accurate search of the literature on non-indigenous species discovered it was misidentified more than once as another alien shrimp, P. semisulcatus, native to the Indo-Pacific region, with the result that its earlier presence in the Black Sea went unnoticed. Morphological characteristics allowing the identification of these two species, the autochthonous P. kerathurus and two other alien Penaeus species present in the Mediterranean, are reprised. The present distribution of P. aztecus based on literature records and surveys carried out in the northern and central Adriatic between 2016 and 2021 is mapped. The unintentional transport of larvae carried in ballast water by transoceanic vessels departing from the U.S. East Coast is suggested as the most probable introduction pathway. The significance of the correct identification of non-indigenous species, a “Descriptor” adopted in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for determining the good environmental status of marine waters in the European States, is emphasized.

Estimate of Growth Parameters of Penaeus kerathurus (Forskäl, 1775) (Crustacea, Penaeidae) in the Northern Adriatic Sea

“…At the Mediterranean level, the caramote prawn emerges as a crucial fishery resource across the entire basin [49,54,60,65]. Despite facing fishing pressure, it also contends with competition from a very similar and invasive species, namely Penaeus aztecus Ives, 1891, native to the NW Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, which has shown significant dispersion within the region during the last 15 years [65,66]. However, it is concerning that there is still no comprehensive stock assessment evaluating the status of this resource in any of the various management areas (GSAs).…”

Tropical Shrimp Biofloc Aquaculture within Greenhouses in the Mediterranean: Preconditions, Perspectives, and a Prototype Description

“…This species was initially detected in Southern Turkey in 2010 [80]. Currently, it is spread almost throughout the Mediterranean basin [81], including Greece [82,83], and it has already been implemented for farming in Egypt [84]. P. aztecus is native to the NW Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, which means that their indigenous populations are adapted to similar latitudes as P. vannamei.…”