Community plus science equals action!

June 14, 2024 1:30 am
Contributed photo Volunteers with Friends of the San Juans learning how to identify and report the highly invasive European green crab on beaches in the San Juan Islands.
Contributed photo Volunteers with Friends of the San Juans learning how to identify and report the highly invasive European green crab on beaches in the San Juan Islands.

Submitted by Friends of the San Juans

Friends of the San Juans invites the public to assist in WSU Extension and Washington Sea Grant’s “Molt Search” program, a community science initiative to combat the growing concerns about the invasive European green crab. The European green crab is considered one of the world’s worst invasive species and threatens the health of Washington’s marine waters. Since only a small fraction of shoreline habitat can be monitored by Washington Sea Grant’s Crab Team and the WDFW-led coalition of tribal co-managers and partners, your help is needed to search for these invaders and protect local marine waters! Through the Molt Search program, you can assist with monitoring shorelines for the old shells of green crabs. If you are interested, please join our training to learn how to conduct a timed survey for crab molts and how to report your findings using a mobile app.

Friends of the San Juans is hosting Molt Search Workshops in June. Here are your opportunities to engage:

Virtual Training via Zoom Tuesday, June 18 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Register at https://sanjuans.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/sanjuans/eventRegistration.jsp?event=1842

In-Person Orcas Island Training:

Wed, June 19, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Eastsound Waterfront Park

Register at https://sanjuans.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/sanjuans/eventRegistration.jsp?event=1336

In-Person Lopez Island Training

Wed, June 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Odlin County Park

Register here at https://sanjuans.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/sanjuans/event.jsp?event=1436

Learn more about Friends of the San Juans at sanjuans.org. For more information about the upcoming training workshops contact Jess Newley, Friends’ Community Science and Education Director, at Jess@sanjuans.org.