The European Green Crab is one of the most damaging marine invaders in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s knocking at the door of our island ecosystems. Once established, these aggressive predators threaten eelgrass beds, disrupt food webs, and damage critical habitat for salmon, Dungeness crab, and countless other species.
We have a narrow window to stop them. Your support can make a difference!
Through our partnership with Washington Sea Grant and WSU Extension’s Molt Search program, Friends of the San Juans has already trained dozens of community members to identify and report EGC molts on local beaches. This early detection work is a powerful layer in the region’s defense network, but we need to grow our impact quickly.
1. Donate to the Campaign
August 14th through midnight August 17th, your gift through the San Juan Island Community Foundation’s SJI Cares campaign will directly support early detection, rapid response, and expanded training efforts.
Every dollar counts, and SJI Cares matching funds mean your gift goes even further.
2. Learn to Identify European Green Crab
Even one sighting matters. Knowing how to spot and report a green crab molt can help stop an invasion before it starts. Because identification can be tricky, we recommend attending a community science training. Sign up below to get email updates about upcoming sessions, or contact us at [email protected].
From the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: “If you find a suspected European green crab or its shell in Washington, take photos and report it as soon as possible using the form on the European green crab identification and reporting page. Review WDFW’s crab identification guide (PDF), and take pictures to confirm identification. At this time, we are not asking the public to kill suspected green crabs. This may sound counterintuitive but is intended to protect native crabs from cases of mistaken identity. As a Prohibited species, it is illegal to possess a live European green crab in Washington.”
3. Lead Your Own European Green Crab Training
Help Us Train Trainers! We’re looking for kayak guides, outdoor educators, and local leaders who want to host their own European Green Crab trainings. We’ll give you the resources and support you need to lead your group, multiplying our reach across the islands.
Friends of the San Juans is leading efforts to stop this invasive species from spreading through the San Juan Islands
The effort to identify European Green Crabs in the islands took on greater urgency when the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed the presence of European green crab in False Bay, on San Juan Island. Between June 15–18, 2025, WDFW set 76 traps across several sites in the San Juans. Eight green crabs were found at False Bay, with no detections at other locations (Roche Harbor or private coves). This marked the first confirmed finding of the invasive European green crab in San Juan County since 2016.
In response, Friends has played a critical role in bridging state and local efforts by connecting WDFW with shoreline property owners in our membership willing to grant access to their beaches. These generous community members made it possible for WDFW to deploy traps in critical habitats quickly. WDFW expressed deep appreciation for this support, noting that the collaboration has been essential in advancing green crab control efforts.
The European green crab is a globally recognized invasive species that poses a serious threat to Washington’s native shellfish, eelgrass, and estuarine ecosystems- habitats vital for salmon, forage fish, and other marine life. Though small, the invasive green crabs are voracious predators and aggressive competitors, known to disrupt food webs, destroy eelgrass beds, and undermine efforts to restore salmon and protect shellfish beds.
This summer, as WDFW returns for continued trapping in early July, we’ll continue to work on connecting landowners, educating the public, and expanding our monitoring efforts through Molt Search protocols and training. Early detection is essential to effective control of this non-native marine invader.
If you’re a shoreline property owner interested in supporting access for trapping, or if you’d like to help monitor local beaches for molts, please reach out! Together, we can help safeguard the health and resilience of our island ecosystems.
Learn more about identifying and reporting green crabs:
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife – Green Crab Reporting
Molt Search Program
Questions?
Contact Jess Newley, [email protected], or call 360-335-2105
