What to know (and what we’d like to know) about this newcomer to Maine waters
Offered in person or online
Blue crabs have long been a highly sought-after shellfish on the east coast of the US and in the Gulf of Mexico, and is the most valuable fishery in the Chesapeake Bay. Until recently, this species was rarely found north of Cape Cod. As the Gulf of Maine warms, however, the range of this warm-water species has been expanding northward. Blue crabs are appearing in our waterways in increasing numbers, as reported by researchers, harvesters, and beachgoers alike.
This raises important questions for our coastal communities. Are blue crabs here to stay? Where are they appearing along the Maine coast? What effects could they have on our local ecosystems and existing fisheries?
Laura Crane, Research Associate at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, and Jessie Batchelder, Project Manager for the fisheries team at Manomet, will address these questions and discuss how the Wells Reserve and Manomet are working with other researchers and the broader community to document the range expansion of blue crabs in our coastal waterways and to better understand the implications for Maine.
How to register
This program is free. To register, use the button below, and select either the in-person or online participation options. Once you submit your registration, you’ll receive an email confirmation with a link to participate online.
About the Presenters
Laura Crane is a research associate at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, also known as the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, in Wells, ME. She is involved in a variety of projects aimed at understanding how climate change is impacting our local coastal ecosystems, from water quality to larval fish to salt marshes. In particular, Laura is interested in monitoring the spread and impacts of invasive and range-expanding species arriving in the Gulf of Maine. Over the past few years, Laura has been leading trapping surveys in Wells to monitor the range expansion of blue crabs into southern Maine estuaries and to better understand the impacts they may have on our local ecosystems.
Jessie Batchelder is a project manager for the fisheries team at Manomet. Her work focuses on strengthening and diversifying fisheries resources and understanding Gulf of Maine ecosystem change in our changing climate. This work is deeply rooted in collaboration with coastal communities and industry members. She has a background in shellfish aquaculture from a research and commercial farmer lens.
