The unexpected summer heatwave in Italy has negatively affected mussels stocks in the country, according to news portal Ansa.
Coldiretti, the Italian farmers’ association, has recorded a 40-45% decrease in the number of mussels being caught, with losses of up to 70% in some areas.
The organisation says that the unusual weather conditions have caused water temperatures to rise up to 35 degrees. Moreover, the lack of rainfall - necessary for cooling the sea down - has led the fermentation of seaweed, depriving the water of oxygen. As a result, there has been a sharp decrease in the numbers of shellfish and molluscs.
Coldiretti added that the market is seeing an increase in mussels from overseas, which are sold as Italian, due to a lack of labelling regulation.
Meanwhile, the organisation also said Italian agriculture is being affected by the heatwave, with declines forecasted for crops such as apples, durum wheat, olives, grapes, and tomatoes.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Francesca Volpe. Click subscribe to sign up for ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
