A delicacy prized abroad is now being exported from Italy, despite being reviled at home. The invasive Atlantic blue crab is blamed for decimating prized Manila clams. For two years, most crabs caught in the Po River Delta were incinerated due to lack of demand.

Fishermen are now exploring new markets for the crustaceans to salvage their livelihoods. This shift in strategy is already showing promise, with potential to rehabilitate the crab's image. The Polesine Fishermen's Cooperative Consortium saw revenues fall 75% to 15 million euros after the crab invasion.

Further details on the containment experiments and the industry's response are available from the source. The export of the Atlantic blue crab may bring new opportunities for Italian fishermen and change perceptions of the species.