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.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
