To set thousands of traps and remove hundreds of invasive European green crabs each year takes a dedicated team. Since 2022, NW Straits Commission has partnered with Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) to host a six-person crew focused on the trapping and removal of invasive European green crabs from Samish Bay in Skagit County. WCC is a statewide service program for young adults and military veterans providing hands-on environmental service and professional mentorship.
As a WCC crew host, NW Straits Commission ensures members receive hands-on education in field-based marine science while protecting the nearshore ecosystem and marine resources. "The partnership between WCC and NWSC has been a great learning opportunity,” said Cai Yan Leong, WCC crew member, and emphasized that “it's been amazing to be able to go out in the field, catching crabs and seeing all the amazing wildlife the PNW has to offer."
Knee deep in mud, the crew collects baseline data of native species composition and tracks green crab abundance and spread in Samish Bay. None of which could happen without the help of WCC.
To ensure a well-rounded experience, crew members also join partners through outreach and community science and assist with eelgrass biomass monitoring and Olympia oyster restoration. Another crew member said the partnership, “has allowed me to learn about how different groups cooperate together for social and environmental good, building off each other’s knowledge,” adding that they “loved the opportunity to see a variety of native marine life and remove invasive European green crabs."
We are so excited to be working together with WCC to build the next generation of environmental stewards and marine scientists!