Blue crabs invade Italian waters; turn into delicacy

Blue crabs are highly regarded as a delicacy in the Mid-Atlantic and southern regions of the United States, stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf Coast. However, in Italy, where this invasive species has infiltrated Mediterranean waters without any natural predators, locals are now beginning to explore inventive, and coincidentally, delightful methods to address this problem.

Experts believe that callinectes sapidus, or blue crabs, were unintentionally introduced to the ecosystem through the ballast water of cargo ships. The increasing sea temperatures are facilitating their growth.
Previously, these crabs struggled to survive when water temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Celsius. However, they now thrive year-round in their ideal environment.

Pierluigi Piro, president of the La Peschereccio cooperative, told the Associated Press, "From an environmental point of view, blue crabs are a real problem because they attack the juvenile fish, the eels, and they interrupt the food cycle of the fish because they eat clams, mussels, and oysters. "Unfortunately, they are growing exponentially because they seem to have found their ideal habitat in the Orbetello lagoon."

Along Italy's northern Adriatic coast and in Tuscan fish farms, fishermen have been disappointed to find their nets shredded.
These fishermen have come across eels, clams and mussels that have already been feasted on. The culprits? Blue crabs.
The agricultural industry group FedagriPesca estimates that more than half of the nation's clams and mussels fell victim to the blue crab this summer.
Unfortunately, eradication is not a feasible option as female blue crabs can produce between half a million to two million eggs per year, and these crustaceans are hardy and aggressive with insatiable appetites.

In response to this challenge, the Italian government has allocated 2.9 million euros to combat the blue crab invasion. However, officials are also seeking to promote the idea that these insect-like creatures present a culinary opportunity.

Chefs have begun incorporating blue crabs into traditional Italian dishes such as linguine and seafood stews. In some parts of the country, blue crabs have been selling for up to 10 euros per kilogram.

The ruling Brothers of Italy party has even proposed the conversion of tuna and other fish canning factories into crab processing plants as a strategy to essentially "over-fish" the predator in hopes of reducing its presence.

Despite the fact that blue crabs have a market value of around €80 per kilogram in the United States and Asia, they have struggled to command a high price in Italy. The fishing federation has capped the legally sold price at €10 per kilogram. In most supermarkets, the prevailing price is even less, often below €6 per kilogram. In contrast, king crab, a rarity in Mediterranean countries, can sell for up to €100 per kilogram.

Animal rights activists worried

Animal rights activists are taking action to safeguard blue crabs, particularly the smaller ones, which are allegedly being captured and used as "toys for children."

Gabriella Gibin, a member of the animal rights protection group Coordinamento Tutela Diritti Animali in Rovigo, Italy, has strongly criticized the treatment of blue crabs.

<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgabriella.gibin.9%2Fposts%2Fpfbid033EX1iKRyqUNowpfDmrshqCKPTLVBTib3shqRkA7hDRf5WEfMryQHtC645S7TaEmQl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="792" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>
She asserts that there is photographic evidence of these creatures being subjected to abuse. Gibin further alleges that she has seen instances of crabs being caught and then released in parking lots or along ditches where they have no access to water.