Giovanni Nicandro, a mussel farmer from Taranto, Italy, experiences complete crop failure due to pollution and rising sea temperatures, highlighting issues faced by 400 local farmers. Meanwhile, in Galicia, Spain, shellfish pickers have suffered massive losses from high water temperatures and rainfall, with projections suggesting worsening conditions. Despite EU funds exceeding €12 billion for supporting fisheries, only a minimal share has benefited small-scale producers, who struggle to navigate complex application processes. This situation threatens their livelihoods and the sustainability of traditional aquaculture in Southern Europe.
The problems start as soon as we open our eyes in the morning. The loss is total not only for Nicandro but also for Taranto's 400 other mussel farmers.
Heatwaves, which can be fatal to sensitive bivalves, have become frequent and are projected to triple by 2040, threatening centuries-old traditions of small-scale aquaculture in southern Europe.
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