Tag Archives: Renny Talbot

European Green Crabs Reach Cortes Island

Originally published, as part 4 of the Cortes Island Resonance series by the Cortes Community Radio Society.

An unwelcome visitor has arrived on Cortes Island’s shores, triggering alarm among scientists and conservationists. The invasive European green crab (*Carcinus maenas*)—considered one of the world’s most damaging marine invaders—was confirmed in Mansons Lagoon in 2024, marking the first documented sighting in the Discovery Islands. The species’ appearance has set off a coordinated response from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Klahoose First Nation, and Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI).

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No European Green Crabs in the Discovery Islands, yet

The Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) have not found any European Green Crabs in Manson’s lagoon, and so far there’ve been no sightings north of Nanaimo.  

“We haven’t found any, that’s really good news, but we’ve been very pleased to partner with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).  Hopefully, if we ever find them, we’ll be able to trap them out and stop them from harming the valuable habitat here,” explained Helen Hall, Executive Director of FOCI.

Continue reading No European Green Crabs in the Discovery Islands, yet