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Provincial Comparison: New Brunswick vs. Newfoundland and Labrador

 The European green crab was first reported in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007, (12). In 2008, the DFO did a national risk assessment to determine the threat that the green crab posed to the province.  This assessment took into account many biological aspects of the crab, including its life cycle and survival rate, (12). After the assessment, it was determined that the green crab did in fact pose a threat for many parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, (12).  The spread of green crab since 2007 has been quite rapid through Placentia Bay and St. George’s Bay. A major problem associated with the green crab is that it causes a decline in mollusk and crustacean populations, as well as conflicts with rock crab, which in some cases is preyed upon by the green crab, (12).

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          As far as dealing with the green crab, DFO outlines what they call “mitigation measures” in their report. Direct removal of the crab by trapping is outlined as one effective strategy in Newfoundland and Labrador.  They have found that catching the green crab directly overtime may reduce the average size of them and minimize the risk they pose to other species, (12). These direct trapping practices may increase rock crab populations as well which decreases the effect of this invasive species on native species in Newfoundland and Labrador, (12).

            At the time of this report there were still many questions to be answered and it was certain that the solution, and the green crab problem itself, was not fully understood. One major gap that the DFO outlines is the lack of accurate population density estimates; this information is really important for developing management strategies and needs to be considered, (12).  The DFO does offer some management advice rather than actual guidelines. This advice includes reporting any sightings of green crab, monitoring its abundance and distribution and suggests further research, (12).

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​Greg Klassen and Andre Locke prepared a document for New Brunswick in 2007. This document goes more in depth than the analysis for Newfoundland and Labrador in 2008.  There seems to be a better understanding in New Brunswick of green crab competition, which areas were affected most by the outbreaks and the green crab’s tolerances or intolerance’s, (13). This paper also has a very detailed migration section to new areas and behavior patterns. They recommend managing the ways the green crab enters New Brunswick as a good option for control, essentially regulating ballast water would play a huge role in this, (13). They recognize that eradicating the green crab is most likely not a viable option, therefore they suggest suppressing the population of green crabs below an economic or ecological threshold, (13). Some potential methods of control that they list include sound pulses, desiccation, chemical or biological control, physical barriers and selective harvest practices, (13).

 

            After reading both reports, it seems as though New Brunswick has a better handle on how they were going to control the green crab and also it appeared they knew all the essentials about the species which were required to manage it.