Mar Menor prawn catches rise by 48% as fleet waits for seabream

Mar Menor fishermen have harvested 48% more prawns during this autumn compared to the same period last year, raising auction revenues by nearly 68%. As the prawn season draws to a close, the fleet is waiting for the first cold spell to bring in their November catch of gilthead seabream. From the beginning of the prawn season on September 10th to November 9th, fishermen gathered 485kg of the sought-after crustacean, which is a 48.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Auction sales climbed from €24,991 to €41,926.

Only a small number of boats have targeted prawns this autumn. With the closed season commencing on November 16th, crews are hoping that the dark nights around the new moon will enhance their chances of a final good catch. Celedonio Alcaraz, a fisherman from Los Nietos, explained that prawns prefer dark conditions, and he caught 11kg on November 9th off El Galán, located on the lagoon side of La Manga.

He mentioned that prawns favor fine, pale sand and struggle to find suitable habitats where sediment has accumulated. Caulerpa prolifera algae beds are present on parts of the lagoon floor, trapping mud and organic matter, which affects prawn distribution.

Catches of the native prawn, celebrated for its sweet and tender flesh, can fluctuate significantly from one season to the next. Fisherwoman Yolanda Gómez, who caught 8kg after three days of fishing, emphasized that these catches can vary greatly year to year. The prawn beds can also occasionally harbor American brown prawns, an invasive species, in their nets.

Seabream catches, however, have lagged behind last autumn's totals. Between October 1st and November 15th, 2025, more than 44 tonnes of gilthead seabream were sold at auction for €317,059. The autumn's current catch, however, is below 12 tonnes, valued at €114,547. Fishermen attribute the lower numbers to higher water levels caused by recent heavy rainfall, which has made fishing conditions more challenging.

Despite this, a few seabream weighing over 2kg have already passed through the electronic auction belt at Lo Pagán. For now, such larger fish remain scarce.