The Observer, July, 2009

Invasive Species: Green Crab Monitoring

By DAN GILSON
Council Project Manager

Council staffer Dan Gilson recently traveled to Seward for several days to assist in setting up a green crab monitoring program for the Seward area. Colleagues from the Seward Sealife Center, Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance, and the Seward High School helped with the project.

The late May temperatures in the mid-40’s and fresh snow on the mountains didn’t stop the monitors from deploying 24 traps at three different intertidal areas and collecting the traps the following day. No green crabs were found in the survey.

Seward is one of twelve coastal communities in Alaska that are monitoring for the presence of the invasive European green crab.

For more information on the green crab and other invasive species threatening Alaskan waters, visit the council's non-indigenuous species page.

Photo: Todd Rennie, Americorps Volunteer, anchors a green crab trap. Rennie is working with the Alaska Sealife Center this summer on invasive species monitoring and education. Photo by Dan Gilson.

return to this edition
pdf print version of this edition
return to Observer archives