Proceedings 2022/038

Proceedings of the National Advisory Meeting on Comparison of Trapping Methods for Invasive European Green Crab; September 28–29, 2021

Chairperson: Sophie Foster

Editors: Sophie Foster, Kyle Matheson, Cynthia McKenzie, Philip Sargent, Nathalie Simard, Thomas Therriault, and Alex Tuen

Summary

European green crab (EGC), Carcinus maenas, is a voracious aquatic invasive species (AIS) that poses a serious threat to Canada’s marine and estuarine ecosystems on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. EGC can impact eelgrass, shellfish, predator-prey interactions, outcompete native species, and affect commercial fisheries.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), in partnership with stakeholders and Indigenous groups, has developed substantial knowledge of EGC and how to trap them. Trapping has been used for early detection, monitoring, research, and physical removal for control.

DFO’s AIS National Core Program has requested science advice because EGC trapping is critical for early detection, determining impacts on native species and habitat, and control efforts to prevent ecosystem degradation and commercial fishery loss.

A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Virtual National Advisory Meeting was held September 28–29, 2021 to review the Working Paper which summarized peer-reviewed studies and unpublished projects on EGC trapping. Participants reviewed the information and shared knowledge in order to provide advice on the gear type selection for trapping EGC.

Overall, selecting between trap types depends on management objectives and context. Knowledge gaps and challenges include the lack of information on trapping juvenile EGC and the lack of information on effective threshold levels for functional control to prevent impacts on fisheries and sensitive habitats.

Proceedings 2022/038 (PDF, 301 KB)

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