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How to Stop Invasive Asian Shore Crabs

The Asian shore crab, a native of the western Pacific Ocean, was first found in the United States in 1988. It may have been introduced through ballast water, and it spread rapidly from New Jersey through New York, reaching as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Because it competes with native crustaceans and preys on other native species, it is considered an invasive species. There are several ways to curb the spread of the Asian shore crab, known by its scientific name as Hemigrapsus sanguineus. These include tracking, cleaning and donating.

Things You'll Need

  • Cleaning supplies (optional)
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Instructions

  1. Tracking

    • 1

      Learn to identify Asian shore crabs so that you can report sightings of them. This information helps scientists and researchers understand the crabs' colonization patterns. The crabs typically live in intertidal or shallow subtidal zones. They have three spines on each side of their carapace, which tends to be mottled green, purple or orange-brown and is more square than triangular in shape.

    • 2

      Report sightings of Asian shore crabs. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth are currently collecting information about the crabs' geographic range. A link to one researcher's public page is in the Resources section below.

    • 3

      Fill out a questionnaire. The MIT Sea Grant program has a questionnaire for sightings of the Asian shore crab. A link to it is in the Resources section below.

    Cleaning

    • 4

      Inspect equipment that has been in a body of water. Look for visible plants and animals before traveling with the equipment.

    • 5

      Remove mud, plants, fish and animals. This will help prevent aquatic species from hitching a ride.

    • 6

      Eliminate water from equipment. Asian shore crabs could be living in water accumulated on a boat, for example. Limit the crabs' spread by thoroughly drying boats, trailers and other equipment prior to transporting it.

    Donating

    • 7

      Contact local environmental resource agencies for assistance disposing of or donating unwanted aquatic animals, such as Asian shore crabs, that you may have kept as pets.

    • 8

      Abstain from releasing crabs and other aquatic species into storm drains.

    • 9

      Encourage others to donate or properly dispose of aquatic species rather than release them into the wild.

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