Skeena Wild Conservation Trust has put out a notice to the public warning that an invasive species of crab has been found in the Skeena Estuary. They say that these small but highly adaptable crabs are a threat to Skeena salmon survival as they dig up eelgrass beds.
Eel grass beds are a critical nursery and feeding habitat for juvenile Skeena salmon, Eulachon and Dungeness crab.
It’s important to learn how to identify European green crabs. Adults can reach about ten centimeters and have five points on either side of their eyes. Their color can range from green to red or yellow. They are listed among the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species and have spread across North America, South Africa, Australia and South America.
If you find a European green crab, take a photo.
Record the exact location, ideally with GPS coordinates. Report the sighting to fisheries and Oceans Canada. Email: AISPACIFIC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Freeze it for 72 hours, and dispose of it in a compost facility or landfill.
Every sighting helps researchers track the invasive species and understand where it is spreading.