Adapting to Green Crabs in Coastal Maine

With Marissa McMahan, PhD
Senior Director of Fisheries, Manomet

Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Register for Zoom Presentation

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Marissa McMahan

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Friends of Merrymeeting Bay’s (FOMB) fourth presentation of their 28th annual Winter Speaker Series, Adapting to Green Crabs in Coastal Maine features Marissa McMahan, Senior Director of Fisheries, at Manomet. Winter Speaker Series presentations are again being held via Zoom and are accessible via hyperlink at the top of the FOMB web page: www.fomb.org. This event takes place Wednesday, February 12th at 7 pm.

European green crabs are a harmful invasive species that have wreaked havoc on native plant and animal species and habitats worldwide and are thriving in the Gulf of Maine as climate change causes rapid and unprecedented ocean warming. Observations of green crab population dynamics over time and space are essential for predicting and managing the ecological and economic impacts of this species. Also essential, are developing fisheries and markets for green crabs. In doing so we are providing adaptive diversification strategies for coastal communities affect most by this invasive influx. This talk will provide an overview of green crab monitoring, management, and adaptation efforts led by Manomet and partners since 2017.

Marissa McMahan, Ph.D, is the Senior Director of Fisheries at Manomet. Her research focuses on restoring ecosystem productivity and strengthening and diversifying fisheries resources through diverse stakeholder partnerships, community engagement, and knowledge co-production. She also works to advance adaptive fisheries co-management and elevate the importance of stakeholder participation in decision-making processes.  Prior to becoming a scientist, Marissa worked as a commercial fisher for many years. 

FOMB hosts their Winter Speaker Series October-May, on the second Wednesday of each month. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic and ability for participants to attend from out of the area, the series continues via Zoom. The FOMB March 12th presentation: Rosalie Edge, 1877-1962: Hellcat of Conservation features author Dyana Furmansky. This event takes place at 7:00 pm with the Zoom registration link available at www.fomb.org a week or so prior to the presentation.

Speaker Series presentations are free, open to the public. Visit www.fomb.org to see speaker biographies, full event schedules, video recordings of past presentations, become a member, and learn more about how you can help protect beautiful Merrymeeting Bay and the Gulf of Maine.

For more information contact FOMB at 207-666-3372 or edfomb@comcast.net.