New Fishing Opportunities: Invasive, Emerging and Underutilized Species

1. Monitor the distribution and abundance of invasive and emerging species to inform fishery development and management
2. Study food web dynamics and species interactions to determine impacts of invasive and emerging species on native species and habitats
3. Work with fishers to test new gear and fishing techniques
4. Participate in and inform management decisions related to new fishing opportunities

• Green Crab Monitoring: The European green crab is a harmful invasive species that has caused major disruptions to ecosystems worldwide. Observations of green crab population dynamics over time and space are essential for predicting and managing the ecological and economic impacts of this harmful invasive species. Since 2018, Manomet has conducted monthly monitoring of invasive green crabs at several locations along the Maine coast. Many research partners, students and community scientists contribute to this work. Our green crab data has a wide range of uses, including to inform ecological research, conservation efforts, mitigation strategies, and fishery development, as well as for educational outreach purposes. This data is open-access and available through the Environmental Data Initiative’s data repository.
• Green Crab Fishery Development: Manomet is working throughout coastal New England to develop fisheries and markets for green crabs to provide an adaptive fisheries diversification strategy for coastal communities. This requires fishers to catch and identify pre-molt green crabs that will molt and be sold as lucrative soft-shell crabs to restaurants. We are also working with partners to develop value-added products like fermented green crab sauce that can be used by restaurants and home chefs.
• Black Sea Bass: The black sea bass is a temperate reef fish that was historically rare north of Cape Cod, but has rapidly expanded into the Gulf of Maine in recent years as ocean temperatures have warmed. We are working to learn more about sea bass in its newly expanded habitat in order to understand its ecological impacts, as well as support the development of a black sea bass fishery in the Gulf of Maine.
• Blue Crabs: Blue crab sightings in the Gulf of Maine are on the rise. Another species that was historically rare north of Cape Cod, blue crabs are taking advantage of warming waters and expanding north. We are studying the abundance, distribution and movement of blue crabs in the Gulf of Maine to document the range expansion and begin to unravel the ecological and socioeconomic implications. This work includes a trapping program and crowdsourcing observations from fishermen, clam diggers and oyster farmers who are encountering blue crabs during their work on the water.

Green Crab Resources

• Field Guide to Intertidal Crabs
• Manomet’s Community Science Green Crab Monitoring
• Open Access Green Crab Data
• NH Sea Grant Green Crab Recipes
• Green Crab Summit Proceedings
• Gulf of Maine Research Institute Ecosystem Investigations
• Visit greencrab.org website for more resources
• More recipes available at the Green Crab Cafe Blog

Blue Crab  Resources

• Blue crab Dashboard and Survey

• Green Crab: New Hampshire Sea Grant, University of Maine, Bowdoin College, Bates College, University of Southern Maine, Block Island Maritime Institute, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Basin Oyster Project, University of Maine Farmington, University of New England, Environmental Data Initiative, and dozens of fishermen, culinary, education, and community partners.
• Black Sea Bass & Blue Crab: Northeastern University, New Hampshire Sea Grant, Gulf of Maine Blue Crab Network, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, University of Victoria, Maine Sea Grant, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of New Hampshire, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

• Green Crab: NOAA Saltonstall Kennedy, Maine Sea Grant, New Hampshire Sea Grant
• Black Sea Bass & Blue Crab: NOAA Saltonstall Kennedy, National Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative, New Hampshire Sea Grant, Maine Sea Grant, Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation