Blue crab invasion cost Italy’s fishing industry £170m. Now 130,000 octopuses are fixing the issue

• Scientists from the University of Bologna have released 130,000 baby octopuses into Italian waters to combat an invasion of blue crabs.
• The invasive North American crustaceans have caused an estimated £170 million in damage to Italy 's fishing industry by destroying nets and devouring shellfish stocks.
• Rising sea temperatures driven by climate change have fuelled the rapid growth of the blue crab population along the Adriatic coast.
• Researchers behind the Octo-Blu initiative describe the release as an experimental measure, hoping an adult octopus can consume up to four crabs a day.

IN FULL

Scientists unleash army of octopuses to fight off blue crab invasion