Eating ‘An Animal of Unacceptable Intelligence’ Might Help Save the Fishing Industry, but Capitalism Could Ruin It

The planet’s natural ecosystems usually function properly without human intervention. However, when an invasive species starts to disrupt the natural order, people sometimes need to lend a helping hand.

Blue crabs are commonly seen along the Atlantic Coast of both North and South America; however, recently, the feisty shellfish have made their way to Europe, specifically to the shores of Italy.

In the lagoons and bays of Italy, there are no natural predators of the blue crab. So, once they arrived, they quickly started to take over.

Of course, blue crabs aren’t physically dangerous to humans, but what they can and will do is ruin an entire industry. Because blue crabs eat clams, mussels, and other shellfish that are a major part of Italy’s fishing trade, they could cause an economic crash.

From Venetian shrimp to linguini with clams, fish stew, and fresh oysters, Italy’s restaurants already offer a wide variety of seafood-based dishes. The fishermen are simply asking them to add another to the mix.

While blue crab is new to Italian chefs, it has been a popular menu item in the United States for years. The state of Maryland prides itself on serving delicious blue crab dishes, which are most often freshly steamed and topped with special seasoning.

In Italy, several chefs have utilized the blue crab in the country’s flavorsome cuisine. One made a rosemary crab salad, another made pasta with garlic and crab, and one even turned the classic Venetian shrimp into a crab delight.

While the plan to turn an invasive species into a new delicacy certainly sounds ingenious, it’s actually quite common practice.

In fact, managing a natural ecosystem through diet is an ancient tradition; the Hmong people of Southeast Asia have been doing so for thousands of years.

Italy’s fishing industry is valued at almost one billion euros, making it one of the largest in the country after tourism and agriculture.

In addition to encouraging restaurants and Italians to start cooking with blue crab, the Italian government has allocated $3.1 million to help fight the infestation.

Even though the natural world is constantly shifting, many say that climate change is to blame for Italy’s blue crab problem. The species thrive in warm water, and as Italy’s lagoons warm with the planet, there is nothing stopping them from completely taking over.

Joe Roman, a conservation ecologist at the University of Vermont, was among the first scientists to promote gastronomy as a tool to combat the invasion.

In America, invasive species have become a massive problem for many lakes, ponds, and rivers. Through improper management and introduction into waters and flooding over the years, non-native species are beating native species out of their habitats.

In South Dakota, invasive carp are becoming more common and a bigger problem as they eat the food source, knocking out the population of other species as the carp quickly reproduce.

In the Midwest, certain species of herbs are becoming a problem for native species of plants. One notable example is garlic mustard, a tasty herb with a flavor that can easily become bitter.

Japanese knotweed, which was brought over from eastern Asia in the late 19th century and used as an ornamental privacy barrier, is a fast-growing invasive species that is strong enough to break through concrete.

The Native Plant Trust recommends that eating invasive plants is a better solution to destroying plants through traditional methods, including herbicides which are harmful to humans.

At the University of Oregon, the Institute for Applied Ecology hosts an annual Invasive Species Cook-Off, which prompts biologists and others to find and cook invasive species into a delicious meal.

In Florida, anyone can trap or hunt as many iguanas as they want on designated public lands, provided that they don’t violate anti-cruelty laws.

Many Florida residents are hunting iguanas and turning the invasive species into a worthy meal. Iguanas are often called the chicken of the trees since they are high-protein, low-fat meat.

However, not everyone is convinced that eating invasive plants and species into submission is making matters better.

Invasivorism could present a variety of problems that overlook the complexities of ecological invasion.

The worst-case scenario of invasivorism is that it could make a troublesome species popular. Martin Nuñez, an ecologist at the University of Tennessee, has published several papers warning about the effects of capitalist tendencies if invasive species start to regularly appear on menus.