Italy Develops Unique Blue Crab Recipes as Population Surges
Italy, a country known for its seafood delicacies, is facing an unexpected challenge with the sudden increase in the number of European blue crabs along its coastline. The influx of these invasive species has caused a significant decline in the scallop population, which is a staple food for Italians.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Italian government is collaborating with local restaurants to develop innovative blue crab dishes. This unconventional approach is an attempt to protect the fragile seafood ecosystem of Italy from devastation caused by the rampant presence of blue crabs. Despite being a non-traditional solution, it is deeply rooted in Italian ingenuity.
Originating from the western Atlantic Ocean, blue crabs are believed to have traveled to the Mediterranean on cargo ships from North America. However, their introduction to this new habitat has posed a grave problem. Unlike in their natural environment, blue crabs in the Mediterranean Sea lack natural predators, leading to rapid population growth and a subsequent threat to the coastal regions of Italy, Albania, Spain, and Tunisia.
Blue crabs are voracious feeders, consuming not only shellfish but also fish. As they ravage the Italian coast, fishing grounds are facing a dire crisis, impacting the livelihoods of local fishermen. Italy, being the third-largest scallop producer globally and renowned for its culinary heritage, faces an imminent risk to its seafood industry. The dwindling scallop numbers have even forced some fish farmers to shut down their operations.
To tackle this issue, the Italian government has proposed a bold measure – incentivizing the removal of blue crabs. Allocating a budget of 2.9 million euros (approximately 4.2 billion won), the local government will reward those who professionally catch and dispose of these destructive crabs. The governor of Veneto, the region famous for its scallop farms, has declared a state of emergency, underscoring the severity of the situation.
“This crab destroys everything and causes disaster,” declared the governor of Veneto as he presented a blue crab to the press during a recent conference.
As Italy grapples with this unforeseen challenge, its commitment to finding innovative solutions represents a testament to the resilience and spirit of its people in protecting their valuable seafood resources.
By Lim Joo-hyung, Reporter
Asia Economy Daily
I, being unfamiliar with blue crab, started developing and distributing recipes
The recent surge in Atlantic blue crab… ecosystem disruption
Fish and shellfish farming, the main food ingredient, is also in crisis
Italy, which is suffering from a sudden increase in the number of blue crabs, has started to develop its own recipe for ‘blue crab meals’. In Italy, where seafood has developed, European blue crab has been an unfamiliar food ingredient. However, the recent influx of European blue crabs to the Italian coast has led to a sharp decline in the population of scallops, a staple food for Italians.
According to ‘Euronews’ on the 25th (local time), the Italian government is working with local restaurants to develop blue crab dishes. This is because the Italian seafood ecosystem is in danger of being destroyed as blue crabs have recently been introduced to the Italian coast. The media evaluated this as “a non-traditional solution, but essentially Italian.”
blue crab. [이미지 출처=트위터]
The blue crab is a blue crab native to the western Atlantic Ocean. According to Euronews, the crab is believed to have spread to the Mediterranean on board cargo ships sailing from North America to Europe.
The problem is that the blue crab has no natural enemies in the Mediterranean Sea, where the Italian coast belongs. Blue crabs are said to have rapidly “spread” to other countries that share the Mediterranean coast, including Italy, Albania, Spain and Tunisia.
Blue crabs feed on shellfish and other fish. As blue crabs devour any fish and shellfish found on the Italian coast, Italian fishing grounds are also in crisis.
Italy is the third largest producer of scallops in the world after China and Korea, and its consumption of seafood is high enough to enjoy ‘Vongole Pasta’. However, when the number of scallops fell as the number of blue crabs increased, fish farmers were forced to close their businesses.
Because of this, the Italian government has even given a boost to the killing of blue crabs. According to ‘The Times’ of the UK on the 17th, the local government allocated a budget of 2.9 million euros (about 4.2 billion won) to pay prizes to those who catch and dispose of blue crabs professionally.
The governor of Veneto, Italy, famous for its scallop farms, declared a state of emergency.
He showed a blue crab to reporters at a press conference and said, “This crab destroys everything and causes disaster.”
Reporter Lim Joo-hyung skepped@asiae.co.kr
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