The balance of the marine ecosystem is at risk
The collapse of the Chamelea gallina clam population in the Chioggia and Venice areas poses a serious risk to biodiversity, according to the nonprofit MSC Marine Stewardship Council. At least 300 fishing families have been affected by the fishing ban.
February 5, 2026 – A profound crisis is affecting the lupin clam population in the Northern Adriatic. The stock collapse, which began in August 2024, shows no signs of recovery despite the interventions implemented, raising serious concerns for the balance of the marine ecosystem and for the communities that depend on fishing for their livelihoods, warns the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a nonprofit organization that promotes the health of seas and oceans through a sustainable fishing program. Monitoring conducted as part of the MSC certification for sustainable fishing allows the causes to be ruled out as overfishing or mismanagement. Organizations, the fishing industry, and the scientific community are calling for greater research support to clarify the causes, which appear to be environmental in nature.
The Collapse of the Clam Population
Beginning in the summer of 2024, the Chamelea gallina clam population on the seabed off Chioggia and Venice was hit by an extraordinary and sudden decline. Initial reports from the sector were confirmed by marine monitoring.
The causes of the collapse have not yet been identified with certainty, but evidence indicates environmental factors: mucilage, hypoxia and anoxia of the seabed, and the presence of pollutants make it difficult for clams to survive and reproduce, as their ideal habitat is sandy, well-oxygenated seabeds. Scientific monitoring prior to the collapse indicated a healthy population and harvest levels compatible with sustainable management of the resource, ruling out overfishing as the primary cause.
Following the die-off, the Consortium for the Management and Protection of Bivalve Mollusc Fisheries (Co.Ge.Vo), in collaboration with O.P. Bivalvia Veneto and the Veneto Region, with the scientific support of the Agri.Te.Co Research Institute, initiated interventions to promote the recovery of the clam population and environmental conditions, including oxygenating the seabed, removing shells, and seeding with clams from the Central Adriatic. Monitoring indicates that these interventions have not resulted in a significant recovery of the population, reinforcing the hypothesis that environmental conditions are currently not compatible with the survival of the species.
"This is a wake-up call that reveals the ecosystem's suffering. The Adriatic Sea is particularly exposed to pollution and the effects of the climate crisis. The loss of a key filter-feeding species indicates a profound deterioration in environmental quality and puts benthic biodiversity and the balance of the entire food web at risk," comments Matilde Vallerani, MSC Fisheries Sector Manager in Italy. "The fact that the fishery has obtained certification according to the MSC Standard for sustainable fishing attests to the sustainable and effective management of the resource. However, due to pollution and climate change, clams remain at risk: for this reason it is essential to strengthen research to understand and address the underlying causes of the phenomenon, protecting the species and the livelihoods of hundreds of families."
Alessandro Vendramini, president of the Agri.Te.Co research institute, adds, "It is necessary to act quickly to support the restructuring of the fishing industry, including by retiring vessels and restocking sea clams in the main fishing areas of the Veneto region, and to develop new forms of sustainable fishing linked to high-quality production."
Lupin clam fishing
Bivalvia Veneto, a cooperative engaged in the lupin clam fishery in the Chioggia and Venice areas, was the first fishery in Italy and the Mediterranean to obtain certification in 2018 according to the MSC Standard for Sustainable Fisheries. This certification certifies that the fishery operates on a healthy fish population, minimizes its environmental impact, and is managed effectively and responsibly. As required by the program, certified operations are subject to annual audits and a recertification process every five years, conducted by independent third-party bodies.
In 2023, Bivalvia Veneto's clam fishery underwent a new independent assessment process conducted by DNV, which confirmed the sustainability of the fishery, thanks in part to its collaboration with Agri.Te.Co.
In 2025, following the extraordinary mortality and the resulting halt in fishing, the operation decided to self-suspend its MSC certification, as it did not meet the necessary conditions to ensure sustainable fishing. This decision, part of the MSC program, aims to preserve the integrity and credibility of the certification system in times of crisis, without excessively penalizing fishing operations that have demonstrated long-term commitment and compliance. The collapse led to the complete shutdown of 106 fishing vessels and left over 300 families without income for more than 15 months.
"Occasional die-offs have always occurred, but since October 2024, clams have virtually disappeared," comments Norge Tiozzo Netti, president of O.P. Bivalvia Veneto. "Since then, 106 fishing vessels, on which the livelihoods of over 300 families depend, have been idle. This is a true environmental disaster, which risks having very serious consequences for a key sector of the Veneto economy."
The need to invest in research
The collapse of the Chamelea gallina population is a warning sign for the biodiversity of the Northern Adriatic and for the marine ecosystem's ability to maintain its equilibrium.
In this context, the need to strengthen research and scientific monitoring activities to precisely identify the causes underlying this collapse emerges. Only a thorough understanding of the factors at play will allow for the development of targeted and effective interventions.
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