Adriatic on the brink of chaos? Mucilage and invasive species could turn everything upside down!
The consequences of all this are the proliferation of many, perhaps too many, exotic species, such as the blue crab, animals that have always reached our waters, but years ago did not reproduce because they were too cold. Today, they find a perfect habitat here.
![Current temperatures on the surface of the northern Adriatic, where values exceeding +30°C have been recorded for weeks. Source: Meteored's reference model. Current temperatures on the surface of the northern Adriatic, where values exceeding +30°C have been recorded for weeks. Source: Meteored's reference model.](https://services.meteored.com/img/article/fra-mucillagine-e-invasioni-di-specie-aliene-l-adriatico-diventera-un-vero-e-proprio-mare-tropicale-1723126975646_1024.png)
The Adriatic Sea, because of its particular morphology, characterized by very shallow bottoms, is certainly one of the basins of the Mediterranean region most affected by climate change. The rise in temperatures, with peaks above +30°C, is transforming the Adriatic into a tropical sea.
This might seem pleasant for tourists and many bathers, but this is not the case for the ecosystem of these waters, which is absolutely not tropical and therefore suffers great stress and serious damage.
L'Adriatico soffre per il riscaldamento marino, ma anche per il numero eccessivo di animali allevati in Pianura Padana: liquami zootecnici e fertilizzanti principale fonte di nutrienti per le microalghe che producono mucillagini @fimianif @Legambiente https://t.co/XUzs9U3VVA pic.twitter.com/TBGI5ZM2Ze
— damiano di simine (@DamianoDiSimine) August 7, 2024
The consequences of all this are the proliferation of many, perhaps too many, exotic species, such as the blue crab, animals that have always reached our waters, but which, years ago, did not reproduce because the water was too cold. Today, they find a perfect habitat there.
Meanwhile, many native fish species are witnessing the disappearance, and aquaculture is becoming increasingly difficult to practice due to an increasingly extreme climate, year after year.
Invasion of algae and mucilage
Too high temperatures cause the proliferation of algae and mucilage, a dense and viscous substance formed by various micro-algae that accumulates on the seabed or on the surface. The Guardian newspaper reported what is happening by collecting the testimonies of some inhabitants of Fano, a municipality in the province of Pesaro-Urbino.
![Too high temperatures promote the proliferation of algae and mucilage, a dense and viscous substance formed by various micro-algae that accumulates on the seabed or on the surface. Too high temperatures promote the proliferation of algae and mucilage, a dense and viscous substance formed by various micro-algae that accumulates on the seabed or on the surface.](https://services.meteored.com/img/article/fra-mucillagine-e-invasioni-di-specie-aliene-l-adriatico-diventera-un-vero-e-proprio-mare-tropicale-1723127097795_1024.jpg)
They say that already at 7:30 in the morning, the outside temperature reaches +30°C: "Many things have changed in 50 years. I remember that the sea was much more agitated, now it is mostly calm. The amount of fish has also changed, and some species no longer even exist," they say. This year, mucilage is added to this table.
The last time this substance made such a significant appearance in the Adriatic was in 1989, especially in the waters off the coastal cities of Emilia-Romagna.
His presence had caused tourists and bathers to flee, but apart from the inconvenience of smelling the viscous substance under the feet, mucilagine is not dangerous to human health. Unfortunately, on the other hand, it is a lot for fishing.
Molluscs are in danger
According to fishermen, the mulicage invasion causes serious problems with the engines of the boats and clogs fishing nets. The main victims are molluscs. While most fish species manage to avoid mucilage, it suffocates mussels and clams, also threatened by blue crabs.
It is said that in 40 years, such a high temperature has never been observed, even in the open sea where +30°C is also reached. In the past, mucilage was only a problem for a day or two, but today, it persists for more than a month.
![According to Luca Mercalli, President of the Italian Meteorological Society, from the point of view of temperatures, this year is the worst ever recorded for the seas. The Copernicus consortium, responsible for the temperature reference scale, described the situation as "extreme". According to Luca Mercalli, President of the Italian Meteorological Society, from the point of view of temperatures, this year is the worst ever recorded for the seas. The Copernicus consortium, responsible for the temperature reference scale, described the situation as "extreme".](https://services.meteored.com/img/article/fra-mucillagine-e-invasioni-di-specie-aliene-l-adriatico-diventera-un-vero-e-proprio-mare-tropicale-1723127142662_1024.jpg)
The largest and better structured fishermen still manage to survive, but those who are smaller and independent, such as in Pesaro and the neighboring city of Cattolica in Emilia-Romagna, encounter serious difficulties.
All activities are threatened, also because of the extremely high costs and the heavy bureaucracy that people have to deal with.
The Adriatic will increasingly become a tropical sea.
According to Luca Mercalli, President of the Italian Meteorological Society, from the point of view of temperatures, this year is the worst ever recorded for the seas, to the point that the Copernicus consortium, which establishes the temperature reference scale, has classified the situation as "extreme".
Mercalli also adds that no inevitable natural cycle is responsible; he says that humans are 100% the cause. He concludes that any reversal of the trend is impossible: what is only possible is a reduction in the aggravation to prevent the temperature from rising again, becoming unmanageable for future generations.