Invasive Giant Prawn Threatens Brazil's Protected Coastal Areas
The invasive giant river prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is proliferating in Brazil's coastal protected areas, raising significant ecological concerns. Originally introduced for aquaculture in the late 20th century, this species has now been recorded in 11 protected regions, according to a study published in Estuaries and Coasts.
Participatory monitoring in the Cananéia–Ilha Comprida–Iguape estuarine-lagoon complex, part of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, documented 90 individual prawns over a decade. The presence of ovigerous females indicates local reproduction, suggesting the establishment of a self-sustaining population.
Experts warn that the prawn's presence in high conservation value areas like the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar wetland sites underscores a failure in controlling aquaculture-related exotic species. The study calls for enhanced monitoring, revised licensing, and further research to assess ecological impacts.
Earlier research highlighted the prawn's potential to spread across northern Brazil, emphasizing the need for immediate policy interventions to prevent further ecological damage.