© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Smooth Mud Crab Found In Maine For The First Time

This Oct. 3, 2019 photo provided by Marissa McMahan shows a smooth mud crab in Georgetown, Maine. The crab normally lives further south, and it's unknown how it ended up in Maine waters.
Marissa McMahan
/
AP
This Oct. 3, 2019 photo provided by Marissa McMahan shows a smooth mud crab in Georgetown, Maine. The crab normally lives further south, and it's unknown how it ended up in Maine waters.

Experts are hoping to learn more about how a species of crab, normally found in the warmer waters of the mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast, wound up in the New Meadows River in West Bath.

A researcher from the nonprofit group Manomet, based in Massachusetts, reportedly found a smooth mud crab while on a trip to the area earlier this month to research quahog aquaculture. Maine Department of Marine Resources spokesperson Jeff Nichols says the department has no record of that species ever having been found in Maine before.

For the aquaculture industry, its presence also poses questions: "What are the implications for our farms? And is it indicative of broader changes within the ecosystem?"

Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, says new species can migrate, get delivered in ballast water, and make their way here as juveniles borne on ocean currents. It's still unknown how this crab came to Maine, but, however it arrived, Belle says his industry will start monitoring for its presence.

"Because crabs can be predators on juvenile shellfish, then we are particularly concerned about the occurrence of a new species, and need to work hard to understand what that species is and whether or not it's going to be a predator for the things we grow."

Belle says the industry will apply lessons learned from the arrival of the more familiar invasive green crabs, which have significantly damaged wild and farmed shellfish in the area, as well as native eelgrass.

"We will watch much more closely for this species and see whether it is having a negative impact on our farms," says Belle.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content