From the American continent to the seas of Sicily: the Blue Crab lands on the island

Not even beautiful Sicily has been able to escape the aggressive advance of the Blue Crab, a crustacean that is rapidly expanding even on the island's shores. This crustacean native to America's Atlantic coasts, also known as Royal Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus), is spreading alarmingly in several marine areas of Sicily. Although the situation is more critical in the northern regions of Italy, the presence of the Blue Crab in Sicilian waters poses a significant risk to the island's marine ecosystem.

The coastal areas of Sicily, such as the Simeto Oasis, the Vendicari Reserve and the salt pans of Trapani and Marsala, are seeing an increasing presence of this invasive crustacean. Many local fishermen have reported incidental catches of Blue Crabs while searching for other fish species. This has raised serious concerns about the balance of the Sicilian marine ecosystem.

An unexpected threat: the invasion of the Blue Crab

The arrival of Blue Crab in Italy has been facilitated by shipping traffic and large cargo ships, which often release ballast water containing foreign marine organisms into local waters.

This particularly adaptable and invasive species thrives in waters with temperatures between 3 and 35 degrees Celsius and can survive in both freshwater and brackish water environments. Its ability to reproduce quickly and its insatiable appetite place it at the top of the food chain, potentially endangering the survival of other marine species, including mollusks such as clams and mussels, other crustaceans, eggs, and even fish, particularly newly hatched young fry.

In its native habitat, natural predators such as eels, stingrays and sharks keep the Blue Crab population in check. When this species is introduced into ecosystems without its natural predators, it can rapidly proliferate and come to decimate local species just as is happening in Sicily with the disappearance in many areas of the Green Crab.

From threat to resource: turning the Blue Crab into an opportunity

But behind this environmental challenge may lie an opportunity! According to recent surveys conducted by Coldiretti and by other scholars, the Blue Crab could be transformed from a threat to a food resource. Due to its remarkable nutritional composition, rich in vitamin B12 , it could be considered a palatable food. Its delicate and tasty flavor offers interesting culinary opportunities; some Sicilian chefs have already begun experimenting with Blue Crab meat, creating delicious and even unusual dishes such as pizzas topped with this crustacean.