About the Project
This project helped Alaska partners prepare for a coordinated effort to expand community monitoring of the European green crab. Kachemak Bay NERR collaborated with Washington’s Padilla Bay NERR and Sea Grant Crab Team to learn from their well established community monitoring programs. Together, the team developed adaptable training protocols and monitoring kits. The team also hosted two workshops–a knowledge exchange workshop and a “train the trainer” workshop–that brought together numerous state, federal, nonprofit, and Tribal partners. The workshops provided attendees with opportunities to practice consistent monitoring methods and techniques, standardize data collection and sharing, build skills for engagement techniques, and maintain and build new partnerships.
About this Resource
Community monitoring programs can be a vital tool in the effort to prepare for, prevent, and respond to marine invasives. They can help build shared knowledge and aid the early detection of invasive species. In Alaska, there is a growing network of community monitoring programs for the European green crab (EGC).
Interested in joining the effort to increase awareness and early detection of invasive European green crab (EGC) in Alaska? These materials provide guidance for establishing a local community monitoring program, as well as guidance for volunteering as a community monitor. The materials are informed by lessons learned by the network of European green crab monitoring programs currently operating across Alaska.
Resources for Monitoring Program Organizers
- Program Design Guide: use this manual to plan your own volunteer monitoring program for European green crab (EGC) - Volunteer Program Guide
- Customizable Outreach and Educational Materials: use these templates to announce training and community events - Outreach Template
Resources for Volunteer Monitors
- Monitoring Manual: check out this manual for detailed instructions on standardized early detection methods for invasive European green crabs, including field sampling protocols for molt surveys, crab trapping, and standards for data collection - Monitoring Manual
- Identification Guides: use these guides to practice identifying crab and fish species - Handy Dandy Crab and Fish Guide and data collection sheet; Crabodmen ID Guide