The Molt Search program, a joint initiative of Washington Sea Grant and the WSU Extension, is in need of community support to combat the invasive European green crab. This species poses a threat to the health of Washington’s marine waters and monitoring shoreline habitats can be challenging due to limited resources. Friends of the San Juans is reaching out to the public for help with this program by inviting individuals to participate in monitoring old shells of green crabs and reporting their findings using a mobile app.
To assist those interested, Friends of the San Juans is hosting Molt Search Workshops in June. There are several opportunities to engage, including virtual training via Zoom on Tuesday, June 18 from 4 to 5 p.m., as well as in-person sessions on Orcas Island on Wednesday, June 19 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and Lopez Island on Wednesday, June 26 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Registration links for these workshops can be found at the provided websites.
For more information about Friends of the San Juans or the upcoming training workshops, please visit sanjuans.org or contact Jess Newley, Friends’ Community Science and Education Director, at Jess@sanjuans.org. Together we can help protect local marine waters from invasive species like European green crabs by participating in programs like Molt Search.
