Blue-crab invasion jeopardises E-R economy says Bonaccini

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 21 - An invasion of blue crabs in the northern Adriatic is jeopardising the economy of an entire region, Emilia-Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini said after a summit on the crisis with regional health and fisheries chiefs, as well as local clam fishers, on Monday.
    "We need people in Rome to understand that this disaster is putting at risk the lives of thousands of families and businesses," said the centre-left opposition Democratic Party (PD) heavyweight.
    "And its risks destroying an economy which not only provides a livelihood for a community, but which is an Italian and European excellence, together with other identity products of this region like Parma ham or Parmigiano".
    Veneto, to the north, has already declared war on blue crabs, which are reportedly wrecking havoc on the local clam population in the Po delta area.
    Veneto governor Luca Zaia showed reporters two live specimens during a recent press conference, claiming that the crustaceans "break everything and cause disasters".
    Some 326 tonnes of the aggressive invading species, originally from the western Atlantic, have already been harvested in Veneto this year, including 84 tonnes in Scardovari (Rovigo) and 29 tonnes in Pila just in August.
    Premier Giorgia Meloni posted a photo of herself and her brother in law and Farm Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, among others, eating blue crabs at their summer holiday farmhouse in Puglia at the weekend. (ANSA).