Heiltsuk Nation battles invasive green crab surge following diesel spill

A decade after the tugboat Nathan E. Stewart ran aground and spilled diesel into the clam harvesting areas of the Heiltsuk Nation, Indigenous stewards report that environmental damage continues to spread.

Heiltsuk guardians, trained to monitor local lands and waters, have observed a dramatic increase in European green crab populations in Gale Creek near Bella Bella, British Columbia. This invasive species, native to Europe and North Africa, is highly resilient, capable of surviving in various conditions and polluted environments.

The surge in green crabs threatens local food security, as community members like Turza Humchitt report having to travel much farther to harvest traditional clams. Unlike native Dungeness crabs, European green crabs are small and carry little meat, making them more suitable for fertilizer or sauces than as a primary food source.