- ROME - "While waiting for the actual damage recorded by aquaculture operators to be quantified in the coming months, in addition to the expected reimbursements, in full harmony with Minister Lollobrigida and the competent authorities, we are working on a strategy aimed at guaranteeing production continuity in all geographical areas affected by the emergency". This was stated by the Undersecretary for Agricultural Policies, Food Sovereignty and Forests Patrizio La Pietra, during the technical table convened at the Masaf with representatives of the aquaculture consortia affected by the blue crab emergency, which was also attended by Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.
"Now the priority of the government and all stakeholders is to transform the emergency into an economic resource", specified the Stone and added that "thanks to the support of the scientific community, operators in the sector and the analysis of what has been done in countries where they previously had to face a similar emergency situation, in parallel with fishing activity, After the positive feedback from people who are buying the blue crab for food use, we are also evaluating the use in the pharmaceutical field or even as feed of the blue crab unsuitable for human consumption.
The goal that unites us - he underlined - is therefore to get out of the emergency phase to arrive at a phase of management of the problem that we can and must translate into an economic resource".
The Undersecretary then recalled that "the planned reimbursements, amounting to 2.9 million euros, will compensate for the economic efforts produced by the fishermen engaged in the first emergency phase, in which intensive fishing of blue crabs is being provided and subsequent disposal, with the aim of reducing its invasive presence as much as possible, which is putting at risk the national production of clams and mussels".
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