Did you know that UAA students are warning Alaskans about a dangerous new invasive crab species that has the potential to damage our fisheries industries?
Did you know that UAA students are warning Alaskans about a dangerous new invasive crab species that has the potential to damage our fisheries industries?
A looming danger: On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, on Annette Island in Southeast Alaska, off the coast of Metlakatla, evidence of . These small creatures have been working their way up the west coast, where they aggressively hunt worms, clams, mussels, juvenile king crabs, and even juvenile salmon. They burrow into the shoreline, contributing to coastal erosion.
- Their growth rate is particularly worrying. Within 12 months, the population can go from in the 100s to in the 100,000s. Luckily, no green crabs have been found beyond Metlakatla, which is just south of Ketchikan, for now. But scientists say their spread is inevitable.
The economic impact is real: These crabs have the potential to damage Alaska’s multi-billion dollar fisheries industries, . The governor of Washington recently declared a state of emergency over the green crab and has spent millions fighting their spread.
On the ÐßÐßÊÓƵfront: The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR) in ÐßÐßÊÓƵr, ÐßÐßÊÓƵengages a team of scientists and educators, to research, monitor, and educate around the ecosystem that is Kachemak Bay. Their team also assists with monitoring invasive species and educating about best practices.
- This reserve (the only one in Alaska) is part of a national system of reserves supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the ÐßÐßÊÓƵCenter for Conservation Science (ACCS) at the University of ÐßÐßÊÓƵAnchorage (UAA).
A partnership is born: In the fall of 2022, UAA’s Dean of the College of Arts and Science Jenny McNulty, and the Vice Chancellor of Research Aaron Dotson visited the Kachemak Bay Reserve. During this visit, the groups discussed joining the skills and resources of KBNERR and UAA and working together on a project. The chair of UAA’s journalism and public communications department (JPC) Dr. Joy Mapaye, Atwood Chair of Journalism John Sharify, and JPC professor Paola Banchero all worked together to create a plan.
- The partners prepared for a spring course, co-developing an experiential learning opportunity where students would be able to visit the reserve in ÐßÐßÊÓƵr to facilitate the production of media materials that the preserve needs to support its mission.
A successful outcome: When the UAA team learned about the European Green Crab, they knew this was an important issue. New materials were direly needed to help with outreach efforts. KBNERR staff provided information and content to the professors and students, including classroom visits at UAA to develop context around the issues of marine invasives.
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