Green crab unlikely on peninsula

By Aaron Beswick

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

Fishermen on the Northern Peninsula and in Southern Labrador have plenty to worry about already between gas and low prices for their product – they don’t need an invasive specie killing their crab.

However, according to research scientist Dr. Cynthia McKenzie, they needn’t worry about the green crab, which is making a new home in Placentia Bay. Scientists suspect the highly aggressive green crab, a native to the coasts of Portugal and Spain, was brought to Placentia Bay in larval form in the ballast tanks of freighters or oil tankers calling on the port.

McKenzie just took part in a risk assessment held by they Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on green crab. The specie has been found in calm, shallow water and eel beds.

“We haven’t found any in areas with high energetic (high wave action) and rocky shorelines.”

A provincial survey conducted by DFO didn’t find any on the west coast.

As well, the temperature is too cold for the European version of the crab, explained. McKenzie.

“Basically the potential is there, but the Northern Peninsula is probably the safest place due to the water temperature.”

The danger, however, is that ships coming from Iceland or Greenland might drop their ballast as they enter the Strait of Belle Isle and be carrying a version of the specie more adapted to cold water.

Another threat for the transportation of invasive species is that while ships coming from Europe are ordered to empty their ballast tanks in mid-Atlantic, ships traveling along the Canadian and American seaboard don’t have to empty their ballast tanks.

“There are gaps in the legislation that consider the waters north of Massachusetts the same body of water as here,” said McKenzie of why transport ships prying the Eastern seaboard don’t have to empty their ballasts before calling on a port. “The regulations were basically developed to protect the great lakes.”

The crab have been able to displace many rock crab in Placentia Bay because their longer claws and aggressive manner make them a better predator. As for whether they’d displace commercially viable species such as lobster is unknown.

“We’ve found their favourite foods are clams and mussels and other shellfish. There have been cases in lab studies where they have eaten juvenile lobster, but they are a food source for other things as well,” said McKenzie. “But we’re hoping to beat them back before we find out what happens.”

Eugene Caines wants them beat back.

The Port Saunders small boat fisherman doesn’t want them eating his lobster.

“Small boats don’t survive on cod and turbot – 75 per cent of our income is lobster on the west coast,” said Caines. “If the crab come into St. John Bay or Ingornachoix Bay and cleans out the lobster, we’re done.”

He explained that fresh water rivers run into Hawkes Bay and River of Ponds and he worries the area would prove a good breeding ground for the green crab.

“They’re kind of ferocious little critters and they have us very much worried. We’d like to see government put forward some money to clean them out and for people to keep their eyes out for them.”