U.S. states in the Pacific Northwest are taking measures to stop the spread of invasive aquatic species that can cause havoc in their coastal waters.
In Oregon, officials are implementing mandatory boat inspections to help catch and contain golden mussels. Local to China and Southeast Asia, golden mussels can cause damage to water infrastructure and degrade water quality, impacting fishing and boating.
Golden mussels have not been detected in Oregon yet; however, the species was discovered in California waters last year.
“Golden mussels were detected for the first time in North America last year, which means the threat to Oregon is very serious,” Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Invasive Species Coordinator Keith DeHart said in a statement. “Golden mussels are similar to zebra or quagga mussels, but they can establish in a much wider range of temperatures and water salinity.”
ODFW has set up mandatory boat inspection stations at five entry points in the state to ensure watercraft have been properly cleaned and drained before leaving the water.
“Clean, drain, and dry is the most effective way to prevent the spread of invasive species,” DeHart said. “Having a clean and dry boat is also the fastest way to get through an inspection station.”
California has also stepped up efforts to combat golden mussels. In late 2024, the California Fish and Game Commission had the mussels listed as a restricted species. In April 2025, the state unveiled a comprehensive Golden Mussel Response Framework to stop the spread of the species.
“This response framework recommends critical steps that must be taken across state, regional, and local levels to limit the spread and mitigate the impacts of this invasive species,” California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham said.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has discovered European green crabs at two new locations. The invasive species are a threat to native shellfish and can damage costal habitats, aquaculture businesses, and other fishing-related activities.
The state has been battling the spread of the crabs for years now; more than 1.7 million crabs have been removed from Washington state waters since a 2022 emergency order directed the government to prioritize controlling the species. In September 2024, WDFW released a long-term management plan to better control European green crabs.
In an early detection trapping effort, WDFW staff caught green crabs in the South Central Puget Sound Management Area for the first time. The first crab was detected near Port Gamble by WDFW Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Division crews working with the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, while the second was caught in Races Cove.
“We designed our early detection monitoring to identify European green crabs in areas where they’re most likely to spread next,” Washington European Green Crab Emergency Incident Commander Raquel Crosier said in a statement. “While these new detections are disheartening, finding them early gives us the best chance at suppressing the population and preventing further spread into southern Hood Canal and Puget Sound.”
WDFW, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and other partners plan to conduct additional collaborative trapping events this summer.
“Thanks to continued funding from the Washington State Legislature, WDFW, along with our co-managers and partners, is working to reduce the spread of European green crabs and keep populations low enough to prevent harm to critical nearshore habitat, fisheries, shellfish aquaculture, and cultural resources,” Crosier said.
The new European green crab sightings come shortly after Oregon officials discovered a new shellfish threat: Chinese mitten crabs. In April, ODFW discovered the first members of the invasive species in the Pacific Northwest. The state is working with neighboring Washington and NOAA Fisheries to detect any other mitten crabs in the Columbia River.
Source - https://www.seafoodsource.com
