LUECRAB is a two-year Interreg Italy-Slovenia project. The project, funded to the tune of more than 1 million euros. The project was created with a view to protecting marine biodiversity and supporting fishing activities in the coastal areas of the Upper Adriatic Sea, which represent a strategic asset for local economies. In recent years, these areas are facing a growing environmental emergency: the invasion of blue crab, a particularly aggressive alien species that is endangering local biodiversity and human activities related to the sea. The project involves the development of an innovative monitoring system and selective fishing practices to mitigate the harmful effects of blue crab, in a process of knowledge dissemination and mutual coordination between Italy and Slovenia to address the emergency. The production of these outputs and results will produce positive effects in the long run for both fishery operators and local communities, currently the most affected by the blue crab invasion, especially from an economic and environmental point of view. The implementation of the BLUECRAB project also involves the establishment of a cross-border partnership composed of business support organizations, public agencies, NGOs, and specialized universities and research centers, as well as a significant number of associated partners such as regions, development agencies, and other institutional bodies, needed to address an environmental emergency that requires an integrated approach and multiple scientific, technical-operational, and local knowledge to effectively address the problem.


PROJECT DURATION: 19/04/2024 - 18/04/2026

Research groups: