Friends of the San Juans is inviting the public to participate in WSU Extension and Washington Sea Grant’s “Molt Search” program, a community science initiative aimed at addressing the concerns surrounding the invasive European green crab. As one of the world’s worst invasive species, the European green crab poses a threat to the health of Washington’s marine waters. Due to the limited monitoring capacity of Washington Sea Grant’s Crab Team and the WDFW-led coalition of tribal co-managers and partners, community assistance is crucial in identifying and protecting local marine waters from these invasive crabs.
The Molt Search program involves monitoring shorelines for the old shells of green crabs. Training sessions will be held in June to teach participants how to conduct timed surveys for crab molts and how to report their findings using a mobile app. Friends of the San Juans will be hosting Molt Search Workshops to provide opportunities for engagement.
Virtual training via Zoom will take place on Tuesday, June 18 from 4 to 5 p.m. Interested individuals can register for the training on the Friends of the San Juans website. In-person training sessions will also be held on Orcas Island and Lopez Island on June 19 and June 26 respectively. Registration links for these sessions are available on the organization’s 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.