Articles > Invasive Blue Crabs in Italy
Date Published: 2 October 2023
Invasive Blue Crabs in Italy
Seungki Hong and Wonjae Lee
Blue crabs from the American coastline crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the ballast water of cargo ships. Their migration to Italy is mostly attributed to the rise of the ocean temperature in the Mediterranean Sea, as crabs are significantly affected by the ocean temperature, where their growth only occurs when water temperatures are above 15℃.
They prey on local marine organisms, devouring stocks of eels, clams, and mussels, thus threatening the country’s role as one of the world’s leading clam producers. It is reported that they have already eaten up nearly 90 percent of young clams, significantly damaging the Italian economy. The Italian government proclaimed a state of emergency over the blue crab boom.
About thirteen tons of blue crabs are caught daily, but only a small amount of them are used for food, most for livestock feed. Experts are looking for ways for the invasive blue crabs to coexist with native shellfish because eradicating blue crabs is virtually impossible. The Italian government is considering exporting to countries to solve this problem.
The candidates include South Korea, China, and Indonesia. South Korea has already been importing blue crabs from Greece, and it is actively searching for Italian companies to cooperate with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in South Korea. In addition, South Korea’s crab consumption per capita is the top in the world, with about 1.9 kg per person. Blue crabs will be exported to South Korea in October if an appropriate local company is found.
Works Cited
Reed, L. (2023, September 6). Nobody asked us, but Italy’s chefs are bungling their blue crab boom. The Baltimore Banner.
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/food-drink/italy-blue-crabs-invasive-species-cooking-N72IA3D3GZB4LHNXV6MQJCBZPY/#:~:text=The%20blue%20 crabs%20are%20 believed,young%20clams%20in%20some%20areas.
Guardian News and Media. (2023, August 22). Invasive blue crabs threaten economy of whole regions of Italy, official say. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/22/invasive-blue-crabs-threaten-economy-of-whole-regions-of-italy-official-say
Bulletin, B. (2023, September 6). Blue crab-invasive in Italy-sends fishing industry into crisis. Chesapeake Bay Magazine.
https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/blue-crab-invasive-in-italy-sends-fishing-industry-into-crisis/
Virginia Institute of Marine Science. (n.d.).
https://www.vims.edu/cbnerr//_docs/education_docs/StakeholderMeetingPart2.pdf
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