The Makah Fisheries Management Department is once again soliciting for volunteers to assist with our efforts to trap invasive European green crab on the Makah Reservation.

Since 2018, we have caught more than 2,500 European green crabs during our intensive trapping efforts.

In April 2020, the Fisheries Department will begin trapping for a third season in estuaries and nearshore

areas of the Makah Reservation.

European green crab are excellent invaders that can eat native clams and outcompete native crabs for habitat and food resources. We hope that this aggressive trapping effort will severely reduce and control the population on the Makah Reservation before their population becomes further established and negatively impacts our local species and ecosystems.

For more information about green crab trapping efforts or to become a volunteer contact the Makah Fisheries Department via the Marine Ecologist, Adrianne Akmajian, at marine.ecologist@makah.com or (360) 645-3079.

Please note that all volunteers are required to follow the Tribe’s Drug-Free Workplace Policy.

Trappings occur as 3-day sessions. On Day one set traps, Day 2 check and reset traps, and Day 3 check and remove traps. It is most helpful to us if a volunteer is able to come for all three days of a trapping session. Free camping and a 10 percent discount will be provided for cabins at the Hobuck Beach Resort for volunteers on the project.

Trapping activities will take place from April through September.

The first evidence of European green crabs in America was found in the 1800s when crabs were brought over to Cape Cod on a sailing ship. In 1989, European green crabs were spotted in San Francisco Bay and began spreading north, being observed in Oregon in 1997, Washington in 1998 and British Columbia in 1999.