Italy – Italian fishing communities in the northern regions of the country are facing a serious threat from invasive blue crabs, originating from the coasts of North and South America. These predatory crabs have rapidly spread across various lagoon-like areas in Italy over the past year, posing a significant risk to the local shellfish population and endangering Italy’s status as one of the world’s leading clam producers.
At a summit held on Monday, the governor of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, emphasized the economic impact of this invasion on thousands of families and businesses. He stated, “This invasion risks destroying an economy which not only provides a livelihood for a community but is an Italian and European excellence, together with other identity products of this region like Parma ham or Parmigiano.
Efforts to control the blue crab population have led authorities to advise fishing communities in affected regions to capture as many of these crabs as possible. However, these efforts have proven largely ineffective in the Po River delta.
In 2021, approximately 326 tonnes of this invasive species were caught in Veneto alone, including 84 tonnes in Scardovari and 29 tonnes in Pila in August. Fedagripesca-Confcooperative, the fishers’ association, estimates that the crabs have already caused economic damage of about €100 million (£85 million) in Italy overall, with up to 90% of young clams in the Po delta being devoured, resulting in severe damage to future clam production.
The blue crab, a critical food source for natural predators like rays and sharks in its native habitat, lacks predators in northern Italy, allowing its population to grow unchecked and disrupt the local ecosystem. Coldiretti, the farming lobby, has referred to the presence of these crabs as a “natural calamity” that threatens the survival of 3,000 family firms in the Po delta, calling for government support.
While the government has allocated €2.9 million for fishing cooperatives to control the crab population, it is also promoting the idea of incorporating blue crabs into Italian menus. Fishers have started selling them at €8 per kilo to individuals and supermarkets.
However, not everyone agrees with this strategy. Gianmichele Passarini, the president of Cia-Agricoltori Italiani Veneto, stated on Monday, “Fighting such a widespread emergency that is causing thousands of fishermen to struggle with a cookbook is wrong. We need a serious program to control the blue crab in our waters. It is a mere illusion to hope to eradicate this species in the short to medium term.”
Experts believe that the blue crab arrived in Italy through shipping and international trade, as they were inadvertently transported on large cargo vessels collecting ballast water for stability. This unfiltered ballast water, often discharged into the Mediterranean, allowed the crabs to invade new areas.