In Scardovari, Italy, two fisherwomen, Oscarina Soncin and Giovanna Pizzo, have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the invasion of Atlantic blue crabs in the Po Delta lagoons. The crabs have overrun the area, devouring the Manila clams that were once the staple of the local fishing industry.
Impact on Local Fishers
The invasion has forced over 600 fishers, including Soncin and Pizzo, to quit their jobs and seek new careers. The local consortium has seen a significant decline in membership, from 1,470 to 860. The fishers are struggling to adapt to the new reality, with many turning in their licenses and looking for alternative sources of income.
The Italian government has invested 10 million Euros to catch and dispose of the crabs, but the efforts have been largely unsuccessful. The crabs have transformed the fishery, with annual clam harvests in the Scardovari lagoon falling by 93%. The blue crabs have also disrupted the ecological balance, destroying clam farms and eating all the seeds, including larger Manila clams.
Causes of the Invasion
Scientists believe that the introduction of blue crab eggs and larvae through maritime transport has likely occurred continuously over several decades. However, the recent extreme weather events and climate change have created favorable conditions for the species to multiply rapidly. The warming of the Mediterranean waters has allowed the blue crabs to reproduce more successfully, sometimes multiple times within a single breeding season.
The Po Delta’s naturally nutrient-rich waters provide a great buffet for the crabs and other marine life. The incoming tides from the Adriatic Sea continually replenish oxygen and bring in saltwater that the females need to reproduce. The crabs also burrow in the muddy seafloor to hide from predators and better withstand winter temperatures.
Efforts to Contain the Invasion
The local consortium has partnered with a Sri Lankan company, Taprobane Seafoods, to create a new supply chain for global exports of the blue crabs. The partnership aims to transform the invasive species into a new economic opportunity for local fishers and workers. However, the efforts to contain the invasion have been challenging, and the blue crabs continue to thrive in the Po Delta lagoons.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
