Italy's blue crab paradox: coveted abroad, reviled at home

Italy’s blue crab situation grew into a policy headache: a 2024 eradication drive culled about 2.3 million kilograms over two years to shield mollusk fisheries, but crab numbers rebounded due to their high reproductive rate, leading authorities to shelve the program. In a bid to break the cycle, scientists released 150,000 baby octopuses into the Adriatic. Fishermen’s livelihoods remain tenuous as crabs fetch far less than clams, even as the crustacean remains a sought-after export abroad.