{"id":3551,"date":"2026-07-19T11:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3551"},"modified":"2026-07-19T11:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:08:31","slug":"an-american-blue-crab-took-over-italian-lagoons-now-fishers-are-looking-for-new-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3551","title":{"rendered":"An American blue crab took over Italian lagoons. Now fishers are looking for new careers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As the sun was rising, two fisherwomen dragged their boat through the Scardovari lagoon in northeastern Italy. Oscarina Soncin stood in one of the largest clam-harvesting sites in Europe \u2014 the frigid water lapping against her knees as she scraped the seafloor with a metal rake. The motion kicked mud, sand and the region&#8217;s famous delectable Manila clams into her net. Her fishing partner Giovanna Pizzo sorted the clams from the debris.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For more than two decades, the duo hauled in more than 4 pounds of clams each morning from the lagoon in the Po River Delta \u2014 upending the notion that women were unsuited for such a rigorous job. Their enterprise drew international attention, inspiring a profile by National Geographic in 2021. The two enjoyed a reliable income and the feeling of freedom on the water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Then, in 2023, they started picking up broken shells with no clams inside. They had to stay on the water longer to collect their quota but weren&#8217;t always successful.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/ab28b818121bf9a4d51f1434436036769e482aa23150cd40c0e1b5610638eb55\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fd29975b5e1e9836350a76eadc7d31d8f\" alt=\"Chiara Vallati with her mother, Barbara Tesserin, and her aunt, Giovanna Tesserin, in their family boathouse. Trained as a chef, Chiara returned to clam fishing during the Covid-19 pandemic when restaurants were closed. Barbara and Giovanna became fisherwomen in the 1990s, following their mother, one of the first women in the area to fish. In 2024, the family gave up their fishing license after invasive blue crabs destroyed local clam beds.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"7\" data-y-link-id=\"1di4yxl1ya1j6l1mu952\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Chiara Vallati with her mother, Barbara Tesserin, and her aunt, Giovanna Tesserin, in their family boathouse. Trained as a chef, Chiara returned to clam fishing during the Covid-19 pandemic when restaurants were closed. Barbara and Giovanna became fisherwomen in the 1990s, following their mother, one of the first women in the area to fish. In 2024, the family gave up their fishing license after invasive blue crabs destroyed local clam beds. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/af49f5874772d1011ff6d57ba30fc8db36a01dcb026d4e37fad312a1bd5aa23c\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F050b4205e74ed667ad261da9972406cc\" alt=\"The Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), native to the northwestern Pacific, was introduced to Italy in the early 1980s to compensate for the decline of native species. At its peak, the industry produced up to 55,000 metric tons a year, tying local livelihoods to a single non-native species. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"8\" data-y-link-id=\"0jap965166nw370a6lxy\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>The Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), native to the northwestern Pacific, was introduced to Italy in the early 1980s to compensate for the decline of native species. At its peak, the industry produced up to 55,000 metric tons a year, tying local livelihoods to a single non-native species. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A competitor had emerged and was lurking nearby: the Atlantic blue crab. The crustacean \u2014 a prized seafood in Maryland, elsewhere along the US eastern seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico \u2014 had overrun the Po Delta, devouring the cultural staple that once provided a livelihood for generations of clammers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Manila clams are woven into Italian cuisine, tossed in pasta or served steamed. Italy is the second-largest producer of the Manila clams after China \u2014 with many Po Delta lagoons at the heart of the country&#8217;s industry.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Yet within three years, the Atlantic crabs have transformed the fishery. Annual clam harvests in the Scardovari lagoon, where Soncin and Pizzo worked,\u00a0fell by 93%. Some clam beds have no survivors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Scientists say the delta&#8217;s naturally nutrient-rich waters provide a great buffet for the crabs and other marine life. But a warming planet has increased ocean temperatures and created milder winters \u2014 allowing the crabs to multiply rapidly and feast on the clams.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;My experience has taught me that anything can happen in nature,&#8221; Soncin said. &#8220;The sea can give a lot, but it can also take everything away, and that is exactly what happened to me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Like Soncin and Pizzo, more than 600 fishers \u2014 40% of the members in the local consortium \u2014 have quit,\u00a0according to the group. Many turned in their licenses and pivoted to new careers. Others refused to let go of the trade and are attempting to adapt to the massive ecological shift.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/51a7ea3cd408b5f58147bf73db020191bec1b3a6212409c16091fab9e85e4b7c\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Ff4a4db66ace07ba58aba1202d96434fd\" alt=\"In 2024, the arrival of the blue crab forced Barbara and Giovanna Tesserin to leave fishing behind, bringing a long family tradition to an abrupt halt. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"11\" data-y-link-id=\"1hqjtoz08hq7lm09sm37\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>In 2024, the arrival of the blue crab forced Barbara and Giovanna Tesserin to leave fishing behind, bringing a long family tradition to an abrupt halt. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/581abab33f382a2474cfb1b35840e7315028c1c10f10851f08995994264a9fd0\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F10fa355e8386edf37aa78d9c9a79d9a1\" alt=\"The Po Delta, where Italy's longest river meets the Adriatic Sea, has long sustained local communities through fishing, shellfish farming and small-scale agriculture. Today, this fragile environment faces growing pressure as climate change alters water temperatures and marine conditions.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"12\" data-y-link-id=\"0pf6mbn1ojrayh0tboh6\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>The Po Delta, where Italy&#8217;s longest river meets the Adriatic Sea, has long sustained local communities through fishing, shellfish farming and small-scale agriculture. Today, this fragile environment faces growing pressure as climate change alters water temperatures and marine conditions. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/49efecf734dcf045a454f3cc124489c8905593b74233f10e6c1f2c19af88f9f2\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F3d25605b78038a5c9672cb368c9f523b\" alt=\"The Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), native to the western Atlantic Ocean, had been present in the Po Delta for decades before its population increased sharply in 2023. The crabs tolerate wide ranges of temperature and salinity and lack natural predators in the delta, allowing them to reproduce quickly. Since the boom, the species has devastated the clam harvesting industry. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"13\" data-y-link-id=\"0mg0n1u123axi606gnul\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>The Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), native to the western Atlantic Ocean, had been present in the Po Delta for decades before its population increased sharply in 2023. The crabs tolerate wide ranges of temperature and salinity and lack natural predators in the delta, allowing them to reproduce quickly. Since the boom, the species has devastated the clam harvesting industry. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\"><strong>The predator that found paradise<\/strong><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Blue crabs swarmed quietly for decades around the Po Delta lagoons. No one knows all the factors behind the population&#8217;s recent boom, although researchers point to recent extreme weather events and climate change, perhaps compounded with a rise in shipping traffic over recent decades.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<div id=\"recirc-e418a12b-6e66-3fb6-a284-f289d6090be2\" class=\"mb-4\">\n<div class=\"grid gap-4 lg:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-rows-[auto_auto_1fr]\">\n<div class=\"relative w-full\">\n<div id=\"_r_362_\" class=\"absolute inset-0 rounded-[4px] focus-within:ring-2 focus-within:ring-link\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Po Delta is a haven for marine life, said Massimiliano Costa, director of the Po Delta Park that helps conserve and manage the local environment. As Italy&#8217;s longest river, the Po delivers plenty of nutrients to the lagoons \u2014 both from natural sources and from human activities like farming \u2014 that provide a surplus of food for sea critters, including blue crabs. Incoming tides from the Adriatic Sea continually replenish oxygen and bring in saltwater that the females need to reproduce. The crabs also burrow in the muddy seafloor to hide from predators and better withstand winter temperatures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The introduction of eggs and larvae through maritime transport has likely occurred continuously over several decades,&#8221; Viviana Carli, a technician with the Po Delta Park field team, said. &#8220;What seems to have changed were the environmental conditions, which became much more favorable for the species, allowing the population to increase dramatically.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/964bc15675ea0730f97d33d38157b5f49175e3e8e5b417a8e0a7bad3b25fbef4\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F238fa04789794a67069fead07d1de5eb\" alt=\"Giovanna Pizzo turned to clam fishing after the collapse of the local textile industry. For the last 20 years, she fished for clams alongside her friend Oscarina Soncin. In 2024, she gave up her fishing license after clam stocks collapsed. She now works at a seafood processing plant.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"14\" data-y-link-id=\"0g31hh80jyrhie1ga40i\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Giovanna Pizzo turned to clam fishing after the collapse of the local textile industry. For the last 20 years, she fished for clams alongside her friend Oscarina Soncin. In 2024, she gave up her fishing license after clam stocks collapsed. She now works at a seafood processing plant. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/08f41ec920a3ef392df4c9561c2169138841a8255ffc539320ec7778e6cfabe9\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F21e58ac1574030d093c48d092d53de30\" alt=\"The clam fisherwomen wear thermal suits to protect against the winter cold and shifting tides in the lagoon. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"15\" data-y-link-id=\"1dcndf4034l8sb15w030\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>The clam fisherwomen wear thermal suits to protect against the winter cold and shifting tides in the lagoon. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In 2022, northern Italy&#8217;s most severe drought in\u00a0two centuries\u00a0allowed salty seawater to push upstream into the Po River, creating a favorable environment for female blue crabs to reproduce and for their eggs to develop, Costa said. The following year, heavy rains and flooding dispersed larvae and juveniles throughout the delta.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The broader climate conditions also shifted in the crabs&#8217; favor. In recent decades, the Mediterranean waters\u00a0have warmed\u00a0to temperatures that allow the blue crabs to reproduce more successfully \u2014 sometimes multiple times within a single breeding season. Studies show warmer winters have also extended their reproduction period and reduced\u00a0cold fatalities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I never imagined \u2026 the blue crab could establish itself in the Po Delta, given our climate,&#8221; said Pizzo, who started harvesting clams because it offered good earnings from the very beginning. &#8220;This makes me think that the seasons are no longer what they used to be.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Given one female blue crab can produce millions of eggs, a population explosion in the lagoons may have been inevitable in the new environment. No matter how they were introduced to the region, the blue crabs found a paradise in the delta&#8217;s lagoons.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/36db94f39fd7171b712c51dc56a655320c9524586bc1b83d88fdf488ad875259\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fe7e261100e32721b73cccb883d39f0fc\" alt=\"Serenella Binatti began fishing for clams in 1989 using the rasca, a traditional hand-operated tool that limited damage to the lagoon bed. Binatti belongs to one of the last generations to have worked the lagoon this way.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"19\" data-y-link-id=\"159npuu14l6ry106g8sf\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Serenella Binatti began fishing for clams in 1989 using the rasca, a traditional hand-operated tool that limited damage to the lagoon bed. Binatti belongs to one of the last generations to have worked the lagoon this way. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/80b18eea71b5f2f954a093126542c4377b217a91da512ea9e9a5f1b9dec445a2\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fe9ad466067b4dbce9d20446f1518de1a\" alt=\"A cloud of mud rises from the lagoon floor. This fine, oxygen-rich sediment allows clams to burrow, filter nutrients and survive beneath the surface. However, the same soft ground also creates ideal conditions for the invasive blue crab, which digs into the seabed to prey on clams.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"20\" data-y-link-id=\"1svqgkk06k23hn0bcw3a\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>A cloud of mud rises from the lagoon floor. This fine, oxygen-rich sediment allows clams to burrow, filter nutrients and survive beneath the surface. However, the same soft ground also creates ideal conditions for the invasive blue crab, which digs into the seabed to prey on clams. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\"><strong>A fruitless battle<\/strong><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">From 2022 to 2024, the number of blue crab catches has increased by 900% in the Po Delta \u2014 from around 200 tons to 2,000 tons \u2014 according to the\u00a0Aquaculture Advisory Council.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;They completely destroy clam farms. They completely eat all the seeds, even larger Manila clams,&#8221; said Mattias Gaglio, an ecologist at the University of Ferrara. &#8220;They completely disrupt the ecological network.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The two most affected sites are the Scardovari and Goro lagoons, which often comprise most of the country&#8217;s clam production in a year, Gaglio said. In the Goro region, he and his colleagues showed\u00a0clam production fell\u00a0to an average of 4,000 tons in 2024 \u2014 a 70% decline compared to the previous decade. The Scardovari lagoon reported\u00a0annual harvests down\u00a0from 4,800 tons to 340 tons since 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But scientists say it will be difficult, if not impossible, to rid the Italian lagoons of the blue crabs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/c141eb4b03db0992173a9e808b573a9a87b4df21f60024001de8c5365e48192e\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F5256fa3a7bd3b7ac4028ee5fe75536dc\" alt=\"Barbara and Giovanna Tesserin care for their mother, who passed away shortly before the arrival of the blue crab. They say they are grateful she did not have to witness the devastation the crabs brought to their work and way of life.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"24\" data-y-link-id=\"0zkja0o109ls8s1h15ol\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Barbara and Giovanna Tesserin care for their mother, who passed away shortly before the arrival of the blue crab. They say they are grateful she did not have to witness the devastation the crabs brought to their work and way of life. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/bcc5f8fcd0e51209b340a8dd31d966bdb1744e401591c44bd51700edb3b783e4\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fa4bbd673b48cfbdbc74b1669f225f557\" alt=\"The Polesine Camerini power plant sits at the edge of the Po Delta, above a lagoon once rich in clams. Built in the 1980s, it promised economic growth but embedded heavy industry in a fragile ecosystem. Today, facing climate instability, the plant symbolizes an era when development came at the expense of ecological balance.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"25\" data-y-link-id=\"0chn9ze0p2ntcu12ojmo\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>The Polesine Camerini power plant sits at the edge of the Po Delta, above a lagoon once rich in clams. Built in the 1980s, it promised economic growth but embedded heavy industry in a fragile ecosystem. Today, facing climate instability, the plant symbolizes an era when development came at the expense of ecological balance. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Italian government has invested at least\u00a010 million Euros\u00a0to catch and dispose of the crabs. The funds also support the construction of stronger fences and nets to protect the Manila clams.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Officials even encouraged eating the crabs. In the US, the crustacean&#8217;s sweet meat is a delicacy. But Italians, multiple researchers said, seem to be reluctant to eat them because they associate it with damage to the local economy. It also takes much more effort to clean and cook the crabs compared to clams, which can steamed or boiled easily. In Italy, blue crab is used mostly in pet food and occasionally served in restaurants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Any effort done to control the population has been more or less useless,&#8221; said Giuseppe Castaldelli, professor of ecology at the University of Ferrara. &#8220;Still, we don&#8217;t know what to do with the with the crab.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Because the crabs are plentiful, the local market price is low and makes it hard to turn a profit. But recently, a Sri Lankan company named Taprobane Seafoods has partnered with the fishers through the local consortium to create a new supply chain for global exports. Italian fishers catch the crabs, while the company provides expertise in processing and commercializing the food to international markets, including the US. Some locals are also employed at the processing facility.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Within months, the (blue crab) species had escalated from a minor presence to a major threat,&#8221; said Paolo Mancin, the president of the Consorzio Cooperative Pescatori del Polesine, which helps manage stocks and maintenance of the lagoons. &#8220;The partnership aims to transform an invasive species that severely impacted clam farming into a new economic opportunity for local fishermen and workers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But none of those tactics have fully contained the invasive pinchers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/83f0699858980c2531b229d15edcf28cbdc2c5eb9c053bec818483014cf43e1b\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fa85ffaae47eaed932e60691b9f98c7ed\" alt=\"Former fisherwoman Giovanna Pizzo spent 20 years working alongside her friend Oscarina Soncin. Pizzo now works at Regnoli, a historic seafood processing company, after giving up her fishing license following the collapse of clam stocks. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"27\" data-y-link-id=\"0knm4rn0iste7g16s6sp\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Former fisherwoman Giovanna Pizzo spent 20 years working alongside her friend Oscarina Soncin. Pizzo now works at Regnoli, a historic seafood processing company, after giving up her fishing license following the collapse of clam stocks. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/ad360a0a9480f2bd9f06960edc897fafc8a4ceeebba3d8fe63fc7d887baee950\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fb38efe67d8a169c955a22973eb3d8653\" alt=\"Stefania Marchesini is the only cook in the Scardovari area specializing in blue crab. While many locals reject the invasive species, Marchesini invested time and resources to learn how to prepare it safely, even buying a nitrogen blast freezer and collaborating with a biologist to meet food safety standards. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"28\" data-y-link-id=\"143kqpj0r9aqlm0rfxl4\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Stefania Marchesini is the only cook in the Scardovari area specializing in blue crab. While many locals reject the invasive species, Marchesini invested time and resources to learn how to prepare it safely, even buying a nitrogen blast freezer and collaborating with a biologist to meet food safety standards. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/189efb9eecbd7c3e1bbb4352a0bb5c7ff401f64c290ae74b9c86523261366c39\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F00457d299d8d121d5e973d3b7823dc2b\" alt=\"Former fisherwomen Serena Farabotin and Oscarina Soncin sit in the car before going home after work. The two women met after both were forced to leave the water by the blue crab crisis.  Today, they work together in a cleaning company, their new friendship shaped by a place where people have long relied on one another to face loss and uncertainty.  - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"29\" data-y-link-id=\"0cahf2x0pbvdla00mj7y\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Former fisherwomen Serena Farabotin and Oscarina Soncin sit in the car before going home after work. The two women met after both were forced to leave the water by the blue crab crisis. Today, they work together in a cleaning company, their new friendship shaped by a place where people have long relied on one another to face loss and uncertainty. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\"><strong>Finding a future in unfamiliar waters<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Before the blue crab surge, Angela Franceschetti&#8217;s workday felt approachable and routine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Franceschetti is part of the Scardovari consortium, which is down to 860 members compared to 1,470 before the boom of the blue crabs. The consortium provided a quota to guide how many clams she needed to catch \u2014 along with the departure and delivery times for her boat. She could finish her daily tasks within thirty minutes to three hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But when clam fishing stopped turning a profit for her in October 2023, she and her partner, Marco Finotti, expanded their catch to include blue crabs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Now, when she sets her wake-up alarm for the next day, the 28-year-old Franceschetti must look up the times for high and low tides. This homework helps gauge the best time to visit her 80 crab traps. Unlike clamming, a crab harvest depends entirely on the traps, which take about three to four hours to check. She sells her catch to the consortium, which delivers the crabs to Taprobane Seafoods.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/496267d744ee102f7f81e7d558ba52881a964735efd5620fc433fcb0194d542d\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fd822974ae9c2afa469f664335abe7689\" alt=\"Part of a new generation of fisherwomen, Angela Franceschetti still harvests clams, but blue crabs have gradually become her main source of income. Franceschetti chose to adapt and learn new techniques. For her, being a fisherwoman means responding to what the water provides. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"30\" data-y-link-id=\"0c9yarf1v9q9l50lbqga\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Part of a new generation of fisherwomen, Angela Franceschetti still harvests clams, but blue crabs have gradually become her main source of income. Franceschetti chose to adapt and learn new techniques. For her, being a fisherwoman means responding to what the water provides. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"mt-1 bg-primary text-sm text-link ml-2 absolute bottom-0 right-0 before:content-['...']\" data-ylk=\"elm:loadmore;itc:1;sec:content-canvas;slk:more;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;}\" data-y-link-id=\"1rgl9i309riq6f0110s4\" data-rapid_p=\"50\" data-v9y=\"1\">More<\/button><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/8930ea0f85184540fca622483607e53a434dfa7450a4d92f3bd42ba2f5769745\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2F3dc648ff174d432b8fa69bb453e18ff8\" alt=\"Angela Franceschetti, 28, repairs a fishing net. She never believed clams could be her only source of income and learned to fish and farm other shellfish as well.   - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"31\" data-y-link-id=\"08c6luo0ptwwbq0djmwg\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Angela Franceschetti, 28, repairs a fishing net. She never believed clams could be her only source of income and learned to fish and farm other shellfish as well. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/99617c47238c1df8329924d8a836b333b2802e006ea54fe8cade177872b39e60\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fd99a5607bd141d7853d44647de060a72\" alt=\"Representatives from the Sri Lankan company Granchio Blu Trading check the size and weight of crabs, processing them for sale on the global market. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"32\" data-y-link-id=\"0qkuh091j3i1xi0m1sh6\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>Representatives from the Sri Lankan company Granchio Blu Trading check the size and weight of crabs, processing them for sale on the global market. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After lunch, she and Marco return to the lagoon to work on their clam farm for another four or five hours. Along with other members of their cooperative, they remove excess algae with rakes so it can be pushed out to sea and not suffocate the clams. They clean nets and reinforce poles before storms come in. At sunset, they catch additional bait for the crab traps or tend to their offshore mussel farms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Through my work as a fisher, I have come to understand that climate change is not only something that affects the environment; it also directly affects my livelihood,&#8221; Franceschetti said. &#8220;Changes in temperature, weather patterns and marine conditions influence the way the ecosystem functions, and those changes inevitably impact the work of those who depend on it every day.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For Soncin, adapting to the crabs meant leaving the water altogether.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After retiring from clam fishing in 2024, she began cleaning houses. The pay is similar, but the work doesn&#8217;t carry the same meaning as the decades she spent in nature. Pizzo also abandoned clam fishing after a run of 34 years and now works in a fish processing factory that is nothing like being on the water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;What I miss most is \u2026 working closely with nature and enjoying the freedom that came with our work on the water,&#8221; Soncin said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/0c2b260efe0c1fe6ad1f0b285bbc53c26a41809a29621af37af40835f16de37b\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fcnn_articles_875%2Fc1566058e8c83d287d8fd35ee00cf5f5\" alt=\"An old clam sifter belonging to a fisherwoman, left behind and no longer in use. - Chiara Negrello\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"33\" data-y-link-id=\"10wt7ug0abqovo0jkwug\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>An old clam sifter belonging to a fisherwoman, left behind and no longer in use. &#8211; Chiara Negrello<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at\u00a0CNN.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the sun was rising, two fisherwomen dragged their boat through the Scardovari lagoon in northeastern Italy. Oscarina<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3552,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,7,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-italy","category-news","category-science"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3551"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3553,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3551\/revisions\/3553"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}