Join MidCoast Watersheds Council for an informative talk by Derek Wilson, a seasoned Habitat Conservation Biologist at ODFW, as he discusses the European Green Crab invasion along the coastlines of Oregon. European green crab (EGC) are a non-native species that has rapidly colonized temperate coastlines at several locations around the world. Commonly known as the "green crab," they have swiftly become an aggressive invader with potential to disrupt native shellfish communities, including crabs, clams, and oysters.

Beginning with the historical context of EGC colonization, Wilson will take you on a journey from their initial establishment in San Francisco Bay before 1989 to their widespread presence along the west coast between 1996 and 1999. In recent years, the population dynamics of EGC have undergone significant changes, with a surge in numbers attributed to shifting ocean conditions and elevated seawater temperatures during the marine heatwave from 2015 to 2021.

Learn about the presence of European green crab in Yaquina Bay, one of many bays in Oregon where populations have now become established. Monitoring efforts in Yaquina Bay have continued since April 2022 to identify the environmental variables and species interactions that influence the distribution and behavior of this non-native species. Efforts are also underway to generate a risk assessment and management plan for EGC in Oregon. Mark your calendars for an evening of discovery and education!

Derek Wilson has 20 years of fish and wildlife resource management experience with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, all based in Newport. He was a Fisheries Biologist for 13 years where he assisted with the management of the freshwater fisheries by conducting specific research and monitoring projects to fill informational gaps and planning and implementing various restoration projects across the management district. The last seven years Wilson has been the Habitat Conservation Biologist with a focus on estuary health, resilience and restoration.