Photo: Partners join KBNERR’s Harmful Species Coordinator, Jasmine Maurer, in learning how to set traps to monitor for invasive European Green Crab.
Alaska Invasive Species Awareness Week is June 14-20, and KBNERR is hosting an Invasive Green Crab Monitoring Event on Friday, June 19th at noon at Pier One Beach on the Homer Spit.
Come learn about invasive European green crabs, why they threaten Alaska’s coastal ecosystems, and how community monitoring can make a difference. All ages are welcome.
For more information, contact Ingrid Harrald at ieharrald@alaska.edu or call 299-4370.
Help keep Alaska’s oceans healthy during Alaska Invasive Species Awareness Week!
Invasive European green crab (EGC) are considered one of the top 10 most unwanted invasive species in the world. They are a small but aggressive crab that can alter nearshore environments and out compete many native nearshore organisms for resources. Their ability to reproduce quickly can lead to population explosions in as little as 12 months. Since 2006, Kachemak Bay National Estuary Research Reserve has been a leader in collaborating with state partners to prepare and monitor for the early detection of EGC in Alaska. KBNERR is an active partner in the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership (AKISP) working together across geography and agencies to keep Alaska wild and free from invasive species through outreach, education and monitoring.
Homer News Article: Group keeps a watchful eye out for invasive crabs on Homer shoreline