Invasive American Blue Crab Devastates Italian Clam Industry, Prompts Economic Shift
The Atlantic blue crab, native to the U.S. eastern seaboard, has overrun the Po Delta in Italy, severely impacting the local clam industry. The invasive species has led to a 93% decline in annual clam harvests in the Scardovari lagoon, a key site for clam production. The crabs thrive in the nutrient-rich waters of the delta, exacerbated by climate change, which has increased ocean temperatures and allowed the crabs to multiply rapidly. As a result, many local fishers have abandoned clam fishing, with some turning to new careers or adapting to the ecological shift. 
