Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz!

Molt Search is a program by Washington Sea Grant, with partnership from Washington State University Extension and many local partner organizations. By participating you can help monitor shorelines across Washington for invasive European green crabs and native Dungeness crabs by following a simple protocol: a timed collection of all molts on the shore, submitted via MyCoast. Find out more at wsg.washington.edu/moltsearch

What’s a Molt Blitz? The goal is to create the largest single-day dataset on molts across inland Washington. Can we find new areas of green crab spread? What patterns can we uncover in where juvenile Dungeness crabs are living and growing? To contribute to this effort, Molt Search on as many local shorelines as you’re able to reach on June 20th. Remember to crush your collection after submitting it to avoid any doublecounts by Searchers coming behind you.

Already trained? Stop by any local shoreline on June 20th to complete a Molt Search independently, contributing to Washington’s largest single-day dataset on molt distribution across the Salish Sea. Or you’re welcome at any of the locations below to get your questions answered by trainers and meet fellow Molt Searchers.

Need to get trained or want to participate with others? Trainings are offered throughout the month of June (see map below), including a Virtual Training on Zoom, noon-1:30pm on Tuesday, 6/17. Shorelines across the region will be activated by local partners on June 20th. Stop by one near you to get trained or mingle with other Molt Searchers. Bring a friend!

Find an event near you on the Molt Search Event Map below (wsg.washington.edu/moltsearch)

Molt Search trainers will be on-site 6/20 at several locations to answer all your green crab questions & walk you through Molt Search protocols.

• Tolmie State Park (9-11am): Full Molt Search training hosted by Puget Sound Estuarium staff. Registration requested via this form
• Belfair State Park (9:30am-noon) drop-in style hosted by Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group staff
• Twanoh State Park (9:30am-noon) drop-in style hosted by Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group staff
• Seabeck, Big Beef Pullout (10am) drop-in style hosted by Washington Sea Grant Crab Team staff. Location linked here.
• Edmonds Pier (10-noon) drop-in style hosted by Washington Sea Grant Crab Team staff
• Silverdale, Old Mill Park (12:30pm) drop-in style hosted by Washington Sea Grant Crab Team staff
• Saltwater State Park (1:30pm) drop-in style hosted by Washington Sea Grant Crab Team staff
• Burien, Seahurst Park (3:30pm) drop-in style hosted by Washington Sea Grant Crab Team staff
• Mukilteo Lighthouse Park (10-noon) drop-in style hosted by WSU Extension staff & Snohomish County Beach Watchers
• Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve (10-noon) Full Molt Search training hosted by Padilla Bay NERR green crab staff.