Consortium of Polesine Fishermen's Cooperatives OP
Recognized in 2004, it brings together the cooperatives of the Scardovari lagoon of the Canarin lagoon and the Barbamarco lagoon in the Po Delta. National leader in the production of bivalve molluscs and blue crab, it boasts quality and sustainability certifications, including the DOP for mussels. They also raise oysters, including "pink oysters" with an innovative system that simulates the Atlantic tides.
Key products: Scardovari DOP mussel, organic clams, pink oysters, blue crab.
The Product
The production focuses on top-quality bivalve molluscs, including the renowned Cozza di Scardovari DOP, the organic Verace Clam (Tapes semidecussatus), the Scardovari oysters including the Pink Oyster and, recently, interest has also focused on the Blue Crab, an invasive species but with gastronomic and commercial potential. Each product reflects the exceptional balance between fresh and marine waters of the Po Delta, which give the molluscs a delicate taste, a meaty pulp and valuable nutritional characteristics.
The production
The harvest takes place from controlled mollusc farming, practiced in a protected environmental context and characterized by lagoons and brackish pockets, often conducted with traditional methods such as the manual rake (rasca) or the hydrorasca. This technique respects natural rhythms, seasonality and the rules aimed at preserving stocks. The synergy between tradition and innovation, together with habitat study and management plans, constitutes a sustainable response also to the new challenges posed by the appearance of the blue crab, to which the Consortium is reacting with policies of diversification, product enhancement and scientific research.
