EGC Captured Near Port Gamble

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported last week that invasive European green crabs had been captured at two new locations between northern Hood Canal and Admiralty Inlet.  This took place during an early detection trapping effort.  WDFW Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Division crews working in collaboration with the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe caught two of the green crabs near Port Gamble.  Another green crab was caught in Races Cove west of Hansville.  These detections are the first time the crabs have been found in WDFW’s South Central Puget Sound Management Area for EGC control.

“We designed our early detection monitoring to identify European green crabs in areas where they’re most likely to spread next,” said Raquel Crosier, the state’s European Green Crab Emergency Incident Commander and a WDFW Aquatic Invasive Species management coordinator. “While these new detections are disheartening, finding them early gives us the best chance at suppressing the population and preventing further spread into southern Hood Canal and Puget Sound.”

WDFW, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, other co-managers, and permitted partners are planning additional collaborative trapping events this summer to assess the number of EGC in the area and to remove as many as possible.

EGC Is Having A Global Impact

The European green crab is a globally damaging shore crab species that threatens native shellfish, estuary habitats, eelgrass, aquaculture industry and businesses, and other tribal, cultural, economic, and environmental values.  WDFW published a long-term management plan to control this invasive species in September 2024 following input from dozens of co-managers, tribes, and partners. 

“Thanks to continued funding from the Washington State Legislature, WDFW, along with our co-managers and partners, is working to reduce the spread of European green crabs and keep populations low enough to prevent harm to critical nearshore habitat, fisheries, shellfish aquaculture, and cultural resources,” Crosier added. 

More than 1.7 million EGC have been captured and removed from Washington waters since a Governor’s emergency order was declared in early 2022 directing state agencies and partners to prioritize coordinated efforts to control invasive green crabs on the Washington Coast and within Washington’s portion of the Salish Sea.

Reporting European Green Crabs  

If you find a suspected European green crab or its shell in Washington, WDFW asks that you photos and report it as soon as possible at WDFW's Website.  It is illegal to possess a live EGC in Washington.  Currently, WDFW is not asking the public to kill suspected EGC.  This is to protect native crabs, which are often misidentified. More information on EGC regulations is available on WDFW’s webpage.

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