# Blue crab invasion and octopus mitigation in Italy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/blue-crab-invasion-and-octopus-mitigation-in-italy > Updated: 2026-09-04T10:41:01.000Z. Sources: 46. Developments: 6. To combat the spread of invasive Atlantic blue crabs in the Adriatic Sea, scientists have launched the ‘Octo-Blu’ project. The invasive crabs, believed to have entered the Mediterranean via ship ballast water, have caused significant economic damage to Italy’s fishing and shellfish industries. While regional authorities in Emilia-Romagna report losses of approximately 17 million euros since 2022, the group Coldiretti estimates the total impact across Italy at roughly 200 million euros. In some specific areas, clam harvests have been reduced by as much as 70 percent. The project, involving the University of Bologna and the Regione Emilia-Romagna, utilizes laboratory-grown common octopuses as a biological control method. In August 2026, researchers led by Dr. Oliviero Mordenti released approximately 130,000 to 160,000 young octopuses near Riccione and Cesenatico. These hatchlings were introduced in a ‘paralarval’ form and placed in artificial underwater habitats constructed from clay and cement to ensure safe development. Once mature, each octopus is expected to consume up to four crabs per day. As biological control efforts proceed, the fishing industry is transitioning the species from a biological threat to a commercial resource. In the Po River Delta, the Polesine Fishermen’s Cooperative Consortium reported a 75 percent revenue drop to 15 million euros during 2024 and 2025, with membership falling from 1,500 to 850. To mitigate these losses, the cooperative has pivoted from incinerating the crabs to exporting them to international markets and local processors. This shift aims to preserve remaining mussel and Manila clam populations in the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna lagoons. The consortium forecasts 20 million euros in revenue this year, driven by crab sales, and reports having successfully sold all crabs caught so far this year. Scientists suggest that rising water temperatures due to climate change have facilitated the rapid expansion of the species since 2023. ## Claims - The common octopus is being used to combat the invasive blue crab population in the Adriatic. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The blue crab invasion has caused approximately 200 million euros in damages to the Italian fishing industry. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The blue crab species caused nearly 17 million euros in damages in the Emilia-Romagna region since 2022. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Blue crabs are native to the North American Atlantic coast and likely entered the Mediterranean via ship ballast water. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Warming waters allow blue crabs to thrive and reproduce year-round, as temperatures no longer drop below the 10°C threshold that previously limited them. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Octopuses can act as natural predators to control blue crab populations. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Blue crabs have caused nearly 17 million euros in damage in the Emilia-Romagna region since 2022. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Total damage from blue crabs across Italy is estimated at approximately 200 million euros. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The blue crab population increase is linked to ocean warming and climate change. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Octo-Blu project is breeding octopus hatchlings to act as a biological control against the invasive crabs. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Okto-Blu project aims to increase octopus numbers to combat invasive blue crabs. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-04: Italy turns invasive blue crab threat into commercial resource Italian fishermen are turning an invasive blue crab crisis into a business opportunity, selling the species to boost industry revenues after years of ecological and economic damage in the Adriatic. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-turns-invasive-blue-crab-threat-into-commercial-resource ### 2026-09-02: Italian fishermen pivot to exporting invasive blue crabs Italian fishermen are exporting invasive Atlantic blue crabs to salvage livelihoods after the species decimated local clam populations and caused a 75% revenue drop for regional cooperatives. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-fishermen-pivot-to-exporting-invasive-blue-crabs ### 2026-08-26: Italy releases octopuses to combat invasive blue crab threat Italian scientists have released up to 150,000 young octopuses into the Adriatic Sea to control invasive blue crabs that are devastating local clam and mussel aquaculture. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-deploys-octopuses-to-combat-invasive-blue-crab-invasion ### 2026-08-21: Adriatic Sea octopus release targets invasive blue crab The University of Bologna is releasing 160,000 octopuses into the Adriatic Sea to control the invasive blue crab population, which has caused hundreds of millions of euros in economic damage. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/adriatic-sea-researchers-release-octopuses-to-combat-invasive-blue-crabs ### 2026-08-19: University of Bologna scientists use octopuses to fight blue crab invasion Italian scientists are releasing thousands of octopuses into the Adriatic Sea to control invasive blue crab populations that have caused hundreds of millions of euros in damage to fisheries. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-uses-octopus-breeding-to-combat-invasive-blue-crab-invasion ### 2026-08-04: Emilia‑Romagna releases half‑million octopuses to curb invasive blue crab Around 500,000 lab‑raised octopuses will be released off Riccione and Cesenatico in August as part of the Octo‑Blu project to test their effectiveness against the invasive blue crab in the Adriatic. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/emiliaromagna-releases-halfmillion-octopuses-to-curb-invasive-blue-crab --- Cite as: Blue crab invasion and octopus mitigation in Italy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/blue-crab-invasion-and-octopus-mitigation-in-italy