By now many residents have seen the reports that Italian waters in the upper Adriatic Sea have been invaded by blue crabs, which with no natural predators there, are eating up native mussels and oysters.
The Italian fishermen are trying to find a way to wipe out the invaders, which apparently arrived in a ship’s bilgewater.
This report is naturally of interest to residents along the Chesapeake Bay, where the blue crab, sometimes abundant, sometimes scarce, has formed the base of a waterborne economy for decades.
The Italian fishermen are also trying to determine what to do with the crabmeat. A report on CNN said suggested uses include serving crabmeat with rosemary in salad, or with sauteed garlic over spaghetti. These arrangements seem worth a try.
Of course, we know what to do with the crabs, and if someone could form a “claws across the ocean” group we could help in the catching and preparation of this local delicacy.
Invasive species, however, are no laughing matter. Unlike the cra...