Italian scientists bet on octopus to fight crab invasion
From a fishing trawler in the Adriatic, Italian scientists gently release thousands of tiny octopuses in the hope of fighting an invasive crab species that has devastated local fisheries.
Italian scientists have embarked on a project to combat an invasive blue crab species with a surprising method: releasing thousands of common octopuses in the Adriatic Sea. The University of Bologna's "Octo-Blu" initiative is based on the octopus's natural predation skills as a formidable crustacean hunter. Native to North American Atlantic coast waters, the blue crab has become a destructive force in the Mediterranean, causing nearly $20 million in damages to shellfish industries in Italy's northeast since 2022.
The octopus's limited presence in warm, sandy lagoons where the blue crab thrives poses a challenge, but researchers hope a local population will help keep the invasive crabs in check. An initial release of 80,000 hatchlings since June aims to double by the end of August, with hopes of establishing a small, effective octopus community.
While other potential predators, like sea bass and eels, are being considered, the octopus project could still contribute to managing the blue crab population's impact on the Adriatic coast's marine ecosystem.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
