Campania mussel farms face mass mortality due to sea heat

Mussel farming in the Campania region of Italy is facing a severe crisis due to unusually high sea temperatures in the Mediterranean. Producers report significant mortality rates among mussel stocks, with some areas experiencing water temperatures reaching nearly 30 degrees Celsius at depths of 15 meters.

The impact is expected to be substantial, with regional production potentially dropping to less than half of its usual 6,000-ton annual output. Beyond the loss of current harvests, the heat has also compromised the seeds required for future cultivation, threatening long-term production stability. In the Gulf of Naples and Pozzuoli, as well as in the lakes of Fusaro and Miseno, high temperatures and low water turnover have led to anoxia and microalgae issues.

Industry organizations, including UNCI AgroAlimentare and Mytilus Campaniae, have expressed grave concerns regarding the economic viability of these farms. In response to the emergency, regional authorities have convened a technical committee involving producers, cooperatives, and health institutes to address the situation and determine how to manage remaining stocks.