Lummi Nation Declares Disaster Over Invasive Crab

(Lummi Nation, WA) -- Indian Business Council is declaring a disaster over the arrival of an invasive crab species. The community declared the disaster last week over the presence of European green crabs in the Lummi Sea Pond. Officials say crews have captured and removed more than 70,000 of the crabs in the past few months.

The European green crab is a predator crab that poses a threat to Dungeness crab, oyster and clam fisheries. Sea Grant Washington says the same species has been blamed for the collapse of Maine's soft-shell clam industry.