Invasive blue crabs threaten economy of whole regions of Italy, official say

Fishing communities have been encouraged to catch as many of the crabs as possible in an attempt to reduce their number. Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty Images

Italian fishing communities in the north of the country are fighting an invasion of predatory blue crabs which risks jeopardising the economy of whole regions, authorities have said.

The crab, originally from the coast of north and south America, has spread across several lagoon-like locations in Italy over the past year, preying on local shellfish and posing a threat to the country’s role as one of the world’s leading clam producers.