Posted on Nov 30, 2022
Invasive crab population keeps booming in Washington
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Trappers have caught nearly a quarter million European green crabs in Washington waters so far in 2022.
This year’s record-smashing tally of the invasive species—248,000 caught as of Oct. 31—is more than twice the total caught last year along Washington shorelines.
2021 had seen a massive increase in the unwanted crabs, with 103,000 turning up in traps in the state.
That trend continued in 2022, with Willapa Bay on Washington’s outer coast surpassing Lummi Bay on Puget Sound as a hotspot for the habitat-destroying, shellfish-crunching crabs.
Biologists say the growing haul reflects an increase in trapping efforts as well as booming numbers of crabs. Trapping increased after Gov. Jay Inslee declared a green crab emergency in January and the state Legislature dedicated millions to combating the pinchy invaders.
This year’s record-smashing tally of the invasive species—248,000 caught as of Oct. 31—is more than twice the total caught last year along Washington shorelines.
2021 had seen a massive increase in the unwanted crabs, with 103,000 turning up in traps in the state.
That trend continued in 2022, with Willapa Bay on Washington’s outer coast surpassing Lummi Bay on Puget Sound as a hotspot for the habitat-destroying, shellfish-crunching crabs.
Biologists say the growing haul reflects an increase in trapping efforts as well as booming numbers of crabs. Trapping increased after Gov. Jay Inslee declared a green crab emergency in January and the state Legislature dedicated millions to combating the pinchy invaders.
Invasive crab population keeps booming in Washington
Posted from kuow.orgPosted in these groups: 
Wildlife
State of Washington
Wildlife State of Washington
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“Based on the information we have, it has been a rapidly expanding population,” said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Allen Pleus, the state’s green crab incident commander.
Actual populations of the crabs are unknown, since many animals elude trapping.
The Makah Tribe reported a seventeen-fold increase in green crabs on its Olympic Peninsula reservation in 2022.
“This was a big shock,” said Makah Tribe biologist Adrianne Akmajian. “The numbers of crabs we were catching just went crazy.”...
..."“Based on the information we have, it has been a rapidly expanding population,” said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Allen Pleus, the state’s green crab incident commander.
Actual populations of the crabs are unknown, since many animals elude trapping.
The Makah Tribe reported a seventeen-fold increase in green crabs on its Olympic Peninsula reservation in 2022.
“This was a big shock,” said Makah Tribe biologist Adrianne Akmajian. “The numbers of crabs we were catching just went crazy.”...
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