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Army of 130,000 Killer Octopuses Unleashed in War Against Blue Crabs in Italy
Italy has unleashed an army of 130,000 killer octopuses to wipe out a devastating invasion of blue crab.
TL;DR
- Italy has released 130,000 baby octopuses as a biological solution to the invasive blue crab problem.
- Blue crabs have caused an estimated £170 million in damages, damaging fishing nets and consuming valuable shellfish stocks.
- The 'Octo-Blue' project aims for adult octopuses to consume up to four crabs per day.
- This initiative has been launched off the Adriatic coast in the Emilia-Romagna region, with plans for wider deployment in the Mediterranean.
- Experts note that octopuses are formidable predators of crustaceans, and consuming a female crab prevents millions of eggs from being produced.
- The Italian government is also promoting the consumption of blue crabs to help manage their population.