Friend of the Sea Launches Initiative to Combat Italy's Invasive Blue Crab Crisis
Friend of the Sea, in collaboration with the World Sustainability Foundation (WSF), has initiated a program to support Italian fishing and aquaculture businesses affected by the invasive blue crab. The 'Blue Crab and Responsible Fishing' initiative invites proposals from seafood businesses, researchers, and other stakeholders to address the environmental and economic impacts of the species' expansion along Italy's Adriatic coast. Governmental figures from August indicate that the blue crab has caused over 70 percent declines in market-sized clam production in some areas of Emilia-Romagna. While commercial utilization of blue crab is being explored as a solution, Friend of the Sea and WSF emphasize that any commercial exploitation must align with the primary goal of containment. Projects receiving support must demonstrate business models compatible with declining blue crab abundance, avoiding practices that would maintain or increase wild populations.
