Friends of the San Juans is encouraging the public to join in on WSU Extension and Washington Sea Grant’s “Molt Search” program, a community science initiative aimed at protecting the health of Washington’s marine waters from the invasive European green crab. As one of the world’s worst invasive species, these crabs pose a significant threat to our local marine ecosystems. With limited monitoring capacity and a coalition of tribal co-managers and partners, community assistance is vital in identifying and protecting our waters from these invasive creatures.
The Molt Search program involves searching shorelines for old crab shells, which can be used to monitor their population and behavior. To participate in this program, individuals must first attend training sessions held in June to learn how to conduct timed surveys for crab molts and report their findings using a mobile app. Friends of the San Juans will be hosting Molt Search Workshops on Orcas Island and Lopez Island to provide opportunities for engagement.
Interested individuals can register for virtual training via Zoom on Tuesday, June 18 from 4 to 5 p.m., or attend one of the in-person training sessions on Orcas Island or Lopez Island on June 19 or June 26 respectively. Registration links for these sessions are available on Friends of the San Juans website.
To learn more about Friends of the San Juans and the upcoming training workshops, individuals can contact Jess Newley, Friends’ Community Science and Education Director, at Jess@sanjuans.org.
