Italy has started exporting a delicacy prized abroad, reviled at home
SCARDOVARI, Italy (AP) -- Italian fishermen for two years incinerated most of the invasive Atlantic blue crabs caught in the Po River Delta south of V
Italian fishermen have begun exporting Atlantic blue crabs, formerly considered invasive pests in the Po River Delta, in a bid to save their livelihoods. These crustaceans, blamed for decimating prized Manila clams and mussels, were previously incinerated by fishermen. However, the Polesine Fishermen's Cooperative Consortium, a group of second-generation fishers, decided to pivot towards exporting the crabs to preserve Manila clams and mussels.
This strategy has already proved successful, with the consortium selling all the crabs caught this year and forecasting revenue of 20 million euros ($23 million) this year. The crabs are shipped to Sri Lanka, where they are processed into various products, with most being exported to other markets. The move aims to rehabilitate the blue crab's image in Italy and provide a new income source for fishermen affected by the population explosion.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
