This summer, the team hopes to expand services to waterways that are more remote and with heavier boating traffic. Based on needs identified in boater surveys, services will soon reach the San Juan Islands, particularly near Sucia Island.

UW-based Washington Sea Grant redesigned a hands-free, spill-free pump out adapter kit to make it easier for boaters to use pump out facilities without making a mess. Throughout 2016, Washington State Parks and Washington Sea Grant distributed 2,000 of the free adapter kits at 50 marinas and raised awareness of best practices among Washington boaters at boat shows, festivals, yacht clubs and through a partnership with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Since 2010, the team has stepped up expansion of the pump out stations, adding 65 new facilities around the state for a total of 150 ― and beefed up maintenance efforts accordingly.

“Awareness of the Clean Vessel Program and its pump out services in Washington state is way up. The reaction from boaters has been so successful, we are breaking all records,” said clean vessel program manager Al Wolslegel.

For more information about the program, including a Google map showing pump out station locations in Washington state, visit��.

The is managed by Washington State Parks and supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sportfish Restoration Fund from special taxes on recreational boats, fishing gear and boat fuel. The kits and training are made available to yacht clubs or other organizations that would like adapter kits for members. Contact Aaron Barnett at 206-616-8929 or��aaronb5@uw.edu��for more information. Lake Washington boaters may schedule pump outs through�����ǰ���206-437-6764.

Earlier this week in Westcott Bay, San Juan Island, a team of volunteer monitors caught an , marking the first confirmation of this global invader in Washington’s inland waters.

The volunteers are part of Washington Sea Grant’s , an early detection and monitoring program to look for European green crab (Carcinus maenas)��and collect information on��local marine life.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for controlling aquatic invasive animals and is working closely with 91̽��-based to determine next steps for limiting further spread of the crab.

European green crab have been stowaways on ships bound for U.S. ports since the 1800s, establishing populations, eating local clams and other shellfish and causing serious impacts. In Maine, for example, softshell clam harvests declined dramatically when the crab became established and eelgrass beds have been damaged by the invader’s digging habits.

Until now, green crab populations in Washington have been limited to Pacific coastal estuaries. However, the 2012 discovery of invasive crabs in Canadian waters across the Strait of Juan de Fuca prompted the state’s wildlife department to invest in Salish Sea monitoring and early detection.

This week’s sighting was confirmed by green crab experts of the UW��and of Oregon State University. A single, large, 3-inch adult male crab was captured during the Crab Team’s regular monitoring activity. The agencies are coordinating a response to the sighting, working with scientists at the UW’s .

“Although unexpected and unwelcome, this finding is a perfect example of how volunteers can spur positive environmental action, and it shows that the monitoring program is working as it was designed,” said Jeff Adams, Washington Sea Grant marine ecologist and project manager.

Crab Team volunteers were trained and began monitoring sites in April to detect the invasive threat and monitor Puget Sound pocket estuaries that provide ideal crab habitat. The monitoring program focuses on early identification of infestations so that resource managers can take action to reduce impacts and prevent further spread.

With an estimated 400 potentially suitable sites in Washington’s inland waters, experts are asking all citizens to keep their eyes open for green crab whenever on the beach.

“Anyone can go out and look for the crabs in the water or their shells washed up along the shoreline,” said program coordinator Emily Grason.

Although the crab is a prohibited species in Washington and possession is not permitted, residents can still help:

• Learn how to how to identify green crab. Check out the ��or Facebook and Twitter:��
• Take a photo and report sightings to the Crab Team:��crabteam@uw.edu
• Attend a public presentation at UW’s Friday Harbor Labs on San Juan Island at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13. See the Crab Team for additional details

The work is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under an assistance agreement to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Look who we found!

— WSG Crab Team (@WAgreencrab)

Note: The video above shows an invasive green crab found last month in Willapa Bay.

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For more information, contact McDonald at��206-616-2186 or��psean@uw.edu; Adams at��360-229-9398 or��jaws@uw.edu; and Jason Wettstein, community relations at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, at��360-902-2254 or��James.Wettstein@dfw.wa.gov.