Italy is employing an unusual tactic in its battle against an invasive species of blue crab: introducing tens of thousands of octopuses into the sea. This initiative, part of the 'Octo-Blu' project, aims to establish a natural predator for the blue crabs, which have proliferated along Italy's coastlines over the past few decades due to a lack of natural enemies.
The blue crabs have caused significant economic damage, reportedly costing approximately £170 million according to Coldiretti, an organization representing fishermen and farmers. They are known to tear holes in fishing nets and consume commercially valuable clams and mussels, devastating local aquaculture.
Alessio Mammi, responsible for agriculture and fisheries in the Emilia-Romagna region, described the blue crab as one of the most serious crises to hit Italian waters, noting that in some areas, the crabs have destroyed up to 70 percent of clam production. The financial impact has led some aquaculture businesses to close.
Scientists have released 130,000 common octopuses off the Adriatic coastal towns of Riccione and Cesenatico, areas particularly affected by the crab infestation. The hope is that as these octopuses mature, they will consume a significant number of blue crabs daily. Experts suggest that a single octopus's predation on a female blue crab, which can lay up to two million eggs, could have a substantial impact on the overall population, estimated to be in the tens of millions.
The invasive species has proven highly adaptable, with blue crabs even being found up to 100 miles inland from the Adriatic coast along the Po River, marking a record freshwater incursion in Europe for the species.
In addition to the octopus intervention, the Italian government is also encouraging residents to consume blue crabs. The species is beginning to appear in supermarkets and fish markets, and restaurants are developing new recipes featuring blue crab in dishes like salads and pasta, turning the pest into a potential food source.