ABSTRACT
Clam harvesting was traditionally a marginal fishery in the Venetian Lagoon, but this changed with the introduction of the alien clam species Tapes philippinarum. Here, we briefly present the story of this social-ecological system, using the DPSIR (Driving forces, Pressures, States, Impacts and Responses) framework, focusing on how it has evolved in response to the various management and co-management configurations that have presided over the lagoon during the past 20 years. Environmental and social issues included in the analysis illustrate the vulnerability of this system, highlighting the major threats as well as the conflicts among stakeholders and the slow response of governance.
