The invasion of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) continues to bring the Northern Adriatic fish supply chain to its knees, but a virtuous and sustainable solution can arise from an environmental emergency.
For the first time, in fact, this crustacean – considered a scourge for Italian lagoons – is transformed into protein flour and used in the production of a wet pâté for cats.
It’s about the brand FORCE10signed by the Venetian company Sanypet Spa, a novelty in the world of pet food and an example of circular economy, which transforms an ecological problem into an opportunity for the environment, local communities and scientific research.
In the last three years, the blue crab has devastated the lagoon ecosystems of the Northern Adriatic, devouring molluscs and fish and causing the collapse of 95% of the production of clams, with over 600 farmers forced to close down in the Sacca di Scardovari (Rovigo) alone. In 2024 alone, in Veneto, almost 1,900 tonnes of blue crabs were caught, but just 38% were marketed: the rest became waste to be disposed of, with high costs and waste of resources.
From the lagoon to the bowl: the Fil Blu project and the birth of sustainable pâté
The “Fil Blu” consortium, part of the broader RiPesca project, promoted by the Universities of Padua and Milan with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF), thought about changing perspective.
In collaboration with the Consortium of Fishermen’s Cooperatives of Polesine OP, the startup Feed From Food, and the company Sanypet Spa, the project has created a circular supply chain capable of valorising the blue crab, preventing it from becoming waste and creating a new economic and environmental value.
Thanks to a machine developed by researchers, the crustacean is processed to obtain a sustainable protein flour, used to create a Special Edition of wet cat food produced in the Sanypet factory in Bagnoli di Sopra (Padua).
The product, already tested and arriving in stores at the price of 1.75 euros per pack, will be distributed exclusively in the 350 “L’Isola dei Tesori” sales points.
A sustainable recipe with high nutritional value
The new FORZA10 blue crab paté is a complete food, as stated in the note, rich in 18 g of lean proteins per 100 g, with a low content of saturated fats, a natural supply of omega-3, group B vitamins and essential minerals.
An ideal mix for adult cats, known for being highly digestible and with a strong taste.
But the most innovative aspect is its positive environmental impact: each package represents a small contribution to the removal of the blue crab from lagoon ecosystems and to the support of the fishing cooperatives of the Po Delta.
In fact, the net proceeds from sales will be entirely allocated to the continuation of the project, for the purchase of the machinery dedicated to processing the crustacean and to support the fishing communities involved.
Transforming the blue crab from an ecological problem to a sustainable resource could be proof that the circular economy works when it brings together science, business and local communities. The sea, if respected and valued, can once again become not only a source of life, but also of innovation.
