Celebrate national Citizen Science Day by contributing to NH Sea Grant's New Hampshire Green Crab Project. Volunteers are needed to search the coast for green crabs to contribute to a study evaluating the potential for a commercial fishery to help control this nonnative species. Green crabs are edible, but because they are smaller than other popular crabs, they are not commonly harvested for food. To this end, NH Sea Grant is researching when green crabs molt to explore the feasibility of a soft-shell crab market (similar to blue crabs).
Volunteers will meet at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH for a brief training in crab identification and survey methods with Sea Grant biologist Dr. Gabby Bradt. Small groups of volunteers will then choose a location on the coast to conduct a crab survey, and volunteers will depart for their survey locations. Be prepared to spend a total of 2-3 hours in the training and on your survey. Together, we will capture a snapshot of green crabs all along the New Hampshire coastline!
