Evidence-Based Confirmation of Alien Species Caramote Prawn Penaeus kerathurus on the Turkish Coast of the Black Sea

This study provides the evidence-based confirmation of historical records of the prawn species Penaeus kerathurus on the Turkish Black Sea coast, highlighting a notable geographical extension of its known range. Two specimens—a female 12.81 cm and a male 13.56 cm total body length—were captured 22 days apart using a gill net at a depth of 8 meters off the coast of Fatsa district (Ordu, Black Sea). While the species is recognized for its adaptability and ecological significance, the findings suggest that its presence in the Black Sea is more likely due to anthropogenic factors, particularly introduction via ballast water from ships, rather than active swimming through the Turkish Straits System. The rare distribution in the Marmara Sea further supports this hypothesis. This prawn's high fecundity and adaptability facilitate its colonization in the Black Sea, while the low salinity and cooler sea water temperatures may challenge its long-term establishment.