Washington State battles invasive European green crab infestation

Authorities in Washington State are struggling to control an infestation of European green crabs (Carcinus maenas), an invasive species causing significant marine ecosystem damage. During the fiscal year spanning July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) reported the removal of over 2.16 million crabs.

The situation is severe enough that Washington Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in 2022, leading to the allocation of more than $8 million for control and containment efforts. Despite the massive scale of removal, officials have not yet been able to eradicate the population, citing factors such as increased control budgets, changing weather conditions, and the species' rapid natural reproduction.

The invasive crab problem extends across North America. In Alaska, the Metlakatla tribe removes tens of thousands of crabs annually, while hundreds of thousands are caught on Vancouver Island in Canada. Monitoring and trapping programs are also active in California and British Columbia.