After a year of attempts, Italy still doesn't know how to get rid of the blue crab

Lindipendente

https://www.lindipendente.online/2024/08/08/dopo-un-anno-di-tentativi-litalia-non-sa-ancora-come-liberarsi-del-granchio-blu/

On Tuesday 6 August the Meloni Government appointed Enrico Caterino, former prefect of Rovigo and Ravenna, as extraordinary commissioner to deal with the emergency linked to the proliferation of the blue crab in Italian waters.This decision responds to growing concerns regarding the serious economic and ecological impact caused by the spread of this invasive species, particularly in the Adriatic Sea.According to the Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, the blue crab is threatening not only various economic activities, but also the entire marine ecosystem.

The invasion of the blue crab (so called because of the color of its carapace), known scientifically as Callinectes sapidus, has started to cause alarm since 2020, despite the fact that specimens have been spotted in our waters since the mid-1990s.Native to the western coasts of the American continent, the blue crab arrived in the Mediterranean Sea via the “ballasts” of transatlantic ships, which capture and use sea water - incorporating animals and plants of all kinds into the filling - to stabilize the hull, then releasing it in the docking ports.This spill, which probably introduced specimens of blue crab into our seas, allowed the crustacean to proliferate rapidly thanks to the favorable climatic conditions and to the absence of natural predators.

But why does the blue crab represent a significant threat to fishermen and the Italian marine ecosystem?

Mainly for two reasons:its powerful ones claws are capable of cutting nets fishing, creating problems for fishermen; it feeds on small fish and, above all, mussels and clams, whose shells he manages to crush.The farming of these molluscs is fundamental for the economy of many Italian lagoon areas, in particular in Veneto - where the value of fisheries and aquaculture production in 2022 it was around 193 million euros - and in Emilia-Romagna.

Over the years, several attempts have been made to stem the invasion.For example, the Government has encouraged Italians to consume blue crab, following the example of the United States, where it is commonly steamed or boiled.Catch traps have been positioned, and the Veneto Region has authorized the use of more aggressive fishing tools.However, these efforts were not enough. The commercialization of the species has not taken off and disposing of unsellable crab carcasses involves high costs, making fishing unprofitable.

According to the latest directives, the new commissioner, in office until 31 December 2026, will have a further 10 million euros available, in addition to the 10 million already allocated by the State at the beginning of the year to reimburse the expenses incurred by fishermen in 2023.These funds will be used to develop and implement a containment plan.However, it is not easy to establish the methods of intervention.Scientific studies on the proliferation of blue crabs in lagoons began too recently, and it is still (probably) early to hope for concrete answers.

[by Gloria Ferrari]

Licensed under: CC-BY-SA
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