Lecture on Invasive Green Crabs

Researchers in Washington measure an invasive green crab. /Photo courtesy of Northwest Straits Commission

On Wednesday, Nov. 9, the Friends of Haystack Rock and the Cannon Beach Library will welcome back the World of Haystack Rock Library Lecture Series.

The first speaker will be Dr. Sylvia Yamada, a faculty member of the Oregon State University Department of Integrative Biology. Dr. Yamada will discuss her work monitoring the recruitment of European green crabs in Oregon estuaries for over 20 years. The European green crab is considered one of the most detrimental invasive species on the planet due to cascading effects in the ecosystem that can drastically change coastal economies. Populations of green crabs on the West Coast are currently exploding in numbers since they were first detected in 1989. 

About the speaker:

"Sylvia Yamada is a marine ecologist and a faculty member in the Department of Biology at Oregon State University. She received her Bachelors and Master from the University of British Columbia and her PhD from the University of Oregon. Her research includes salmon stock identification, predator-prey interactions, invertebrate fisheries and the role of introduced fisheries and the role of introduced species in the marine environment. She has been monitoring European green crabs in Oregon estuaries for over 20 years."

The World of Haystack Rock Library Lecture Series is held on the second Wednesday of the month November through April at 7 p.m. at the Cannon Beach Library (131 N. Hemlock St, in Cannon Beach). This year’s season is dedicated to Sandi Lundy, a long-time supporter of the Cannon Beach Library, Friends of Haystack Rock, the North Coast Land Conservancy among many other organizations. 

This event is free and open to all. Anyone is welcome to attend in person or remotely via Facebook Live. The lectures are also recorded and will be available on the Friends of Haystack Rock's website.