LA PUSH, Wash. — A small but harmful invasive species was discovered on Washington's North Central Coast for the first time.
European green crabs were found in waters near the port of La Push. Crews with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reported they removed 33 invasive crabs using traps and hand captures in the first week of August.
“The detection of invasive crabs around La Push is not surprising given their populations to the north in Makah Bay and to the south in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay,” said Chelsey Buffington, WDFW’s European green crab project lead.
The Lummi nation declared the invasive species an emergency in 2021. In 2022, Gov. Jay Inslee raised the alarm, citing how these crabs damage habitats and disrupt life cycles for shellfish, salmon, and orcas.
The European green crabs damage salmon spawning habitats. They devour local Dungeness crabs, as well as clams. One study found that a single crab can eat up to 22 clams daily. This, in turn, can hurt the shellfish industries in the Pacific Northwest.
WDFW crews and other agencies removed more than 285,000 of the crabs from Washington waters in 2023.
According to WDFW, Dungeness crabs were caught during this month's trapping, which is a positive sign that the native population is doing well.
“European green crabs do not respect jurisdictional boundaries,” said Justin Bush, WDFW Aquatic Invasive Species policy coordinator and the state’s EGC Emergency Incident Commander. “This is an excellent example of tribal nations, the state, and researchers working together to address a shared problem that threatens our environment and coastal economies.”
How you can help
This species is known to inhabit shallow waters, typically less than 25 feet of water, near estuaries, beaches and mudflats. Anyone who sees what they believe is a green crab should take a picture of it and report it to WDFW as soon as possible.
WDFW discouraged people from killing the crabs because possessing live invasive species is illegal. The European green crabs are often misidentified as native species. To report a sighting, click here.