r/Eugene • u/daeglo • Jan 18 '24
Anyone interested in helping me control invasive species in Oregon? Specifically, European Green Crab? Meetup
You're gonna laugh, but I'm a local vegan who really, really wants to help get the European green crab problem under control in Oregon. It's a serious problem as they decimate local shellfish populations, as well as feeding on the eggs of and out-competing local crab species. What's worse, they destroy eel grass patches that provide food and shelter for local wildlife and migrating species.
Unfortunately, one person is only allowed to harvest 35 EG crab a day and there's no way that my husband and myself could possibly ever make a dent in their numbers on our own. I'd like to get a group of similarly interested folks together to make regular trips to Siletz Bay and other places where this species has become a serious threat. I'm just trying to gauge interest before say, starting an official Meetup group or something like that.
Both the crab and its caviar are both delicious and edible. So you can eat what you harvest. Otherwise, whatever you catch you are legally required to destroy. You can't even release little ones you find. They can live for weeks outside of water, so the best way to destroy them is to freeze them and then smash them with a hammer. They make wonderful garden fertilizer, as well, if you're a gardener like me.
If there's enough interest, I'd love to be able to help tackle the problem of other local invasive species. Is anyone here aware of other species in Oregon that are presently a threat?
Thanks for reading!
UPDATE: Please follow this thread for further updates https://www.reddit.com/r/Eugene/s/sAf9UC5Y3Z 🦀
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u/mylifesucksalott Jan 18 '24
I am interested, in helping out, I don't have much experience with wildlife, but I make pretty good crab cakes.