At the end of the longest river in Italy, the Po river, the fortune of local residents has changed. This area, between Venice and Rimini, known and feared for centuries by Romans and Venetians because of endemic malaria and harsh living conditions, is experiencing a small economic miracle. The reason is Ruditapes Philippinarum, the scientific name of a type of clam--dubbed the "gold" of the delta--that was imported during the 80's from Japan via England, positively effecting roughly 1,500 fishermen, half of whom are women, of the delta region. Reportedly 57,320 tons of clams were collected in 2009 in Italy, approximately 92 percent of European production, and it is estimated that more than 500 boats and a dozen cooperatives collect some 18,500 tons of clams a year, one third the entire national production.