On the east coast, these hardy crustaceans are known as aggressive eaters and have meant millions of dollars lost in fisheries for clams, mussels and scallops. The crab are destructive to eelgrass beds, which are important to young fish. They’re also known to eat juvenile salmon and could compete with native Dungeness crab.
"invasive species"
A rat was found dead on St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea. Here’s why that’s a big deal.
An intensive 10-month search for a stowaway rat that invaded the rat-free seabird paradise of St. Paul Island has come to a happy end for everyone. Except the rat.
Previously unknown invasive marine species found in Ketchikan
The newly identified species, and other invasive marine species, are not a huge problem in the Ketchikan area, but they could become a problem later.
Why invasive species are on the rise in Southeast
Across the Lower 48, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year to stop the spread of invasive species. Ketchikan biologists say the isolation and unique climate of Southeast Alaska protects the region from most of those. But in the coming decades, Southeast Alaska in general can…
Invasive species haven’t made the Bering Sea their home…yet
The Bering Sea has kept invasives at bay for now, but warming waters look to make it a more welcoming environment in the future.
Homer artist combats invasive plants with papermaking
Desiree Hagen won an individual artist award from the Rasmuson Foundation, which she hopes to use on a community papermaking project that helps remove invasive plant species.
Did a Singapore drill rig bring an invasive species to Homer?
The Randolph Yost drill-rig came to Homer from Singapore. A Homer environmental group is worried the Yost, now docked in the Homer port, could have brought invasive species into Alaska waters. The group is criticizing the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for not checking the rig before it docked in Kachemak Bay.
Researchers present findings on invasive, spineless marine creatures
Gary Freitag thinks tunicates were brought to town many years ago on timber ships, which would explain why their populations are bigger closer to the center of Ketchikan.
No signs of invasive Elodea in Southeast, survey in the works
Researchers have traced the invasive plant’s transmission in Alaska to people dumping out their aquariums into nearby lakes. An aggressive hitchhiker, Elodea will cling to float planes and travel to distant water bodies.
Crayfish invade Kodiak waters
Crayfish are originally from the Pacific Northwest and as with many invasive species, it’s anyone’s guess how they got to Kodiak.