As ocean water temperatures have increased, so has the population of the invasive European green crab (Carcinas maenas) in New England which continues to cause significant economic and ecological impacts on the region’s commercially important bivalve, native crustacean species and ecosystem diversity. In 2019 a seminar was held at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum highlighting some of the scientific research and innovative efforts that were being investigated at the time to find benefits and mitigation solutions through fishery and market development. Since then, there has been a surge in interest by harvesters, aquaculturists, citizens, culinary experts and seafood industry members to move forward on fishery and culinary market development to better exploit the opportunities from a tremendously underutilized resource. This seminar is meant to provide a ‘State of the Industry’ summary as well as discuss some of the challenges and barriers that we are facing in expanding and growing this industry- some of the topics include:
Markets (challenges and opportunities)
Licensing (what is available and what is needed)
Cultural Significance (knowledge exchange)
State of the Regulations (especially with regard to interstate transport and sales),
Opportunities for the Next Generation (students and fishers)
The seminar will be a mixed panel of experts that will elaborate on these topics and stimulate lively discussion and an exchange of current activities, knowledge, and ideas.
Seminar Moderators:
Gabriela Bradt- Fisheries Extension State Specialist, NH Sea Grant/UNH Cooperative Extension, gabriela.bradt@unh.edu
Marissa McMahan, Director of Marine Fisheries, Manomet, mmcmahan@manomet.org
Panelists:
Jessie Batchelder, Fisheries Program Manager, Manomet, JBatchelder@manomet.org
John Painter, Owner, Maine Green Crabs, johnlpainter@me.com
Mary Parks, Founder and Executive Director, GreenCrab.org, maryparks@greencrab.org
Michael Masi, Co-Founder of Shell + Claw
Tae Chong, Multicultural Markets at the Maine Chamber of Commerce, Tae.Y.Chong@gmail.com
Pictured is green crab chowder, served at Must Be Nice Lobster in Belfast, ME