Greater Victoria public urged to be vigilant of invasive species
Published 5:00 pm Thursday, August 6, 2026
Greater Victoria residents are advised to keep an eye out for one of the region’s most unwanted visitors, the invasive European Green Crab.
The warning comes after a monitoring program led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) found the species in Esquimalt Lagoon.
The volunteers of Esquimalt Lagoon Stewardship Initiative, coordinated by the Capital Regional District, one of the many groups involved with trapping European Green Crabs across the region, told Victoria News that the public must inform the authorities if they come across green crabs, as they pose a threat to local marine ecosystems.
If members of the public see the green crabs, they are encouraged to take a photo and note the location, and call the toll-free number at 1-888-356-7525 or email them at DFO.AISPacific-EAEPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
The easiest way to identify the crabs is their five sharp spines beside each eye, with two distinct crescent-shaped lines of yellow dots behind their eyes. Their pentagon-shaped shell and three rounded lobes between the eyes also help with identification.
They are often either red, yellow, or mottled olive green and brown. However, identifying them by colour could be tricky because one of B.C.’s native crabs appears green in colour as well.
Other ways to identify them would be their behaviour, which is described as aggressive, territorial and vigorous, and the fact that they can survive out of the water for several days.
These crabs have a major negative impact on the marine environment, as they have the potential to destroy eelgrass meadows, which are important nursery habitats for herring and salmon. They also eat local clams, oysters, and mussels, and compete with other native crabs.
Considered one of the 10 most unwanted species in the world, the European Green Crab is said to have the ability to alter B.C. shoreline ecosystems and negatively impact economically and culturally important species and habitats.
Their spread has been rapid over the last couple of decades, and this speed is attributed to heat waves that increase reproduction. During their larval stage of up to 90 days, they can drift with the currents and settle in new areas, expanding their habitats.
The species has been spreading along the west coast of North America for the last 30 years, and has been detected in B.C. on the west coast of Vancouver Island and parts of the Central Coast since 2006.
DFO says that early detection of the green crab in new areas can help pause their rapid spreading, and requests the public to inform them about the bioinvader.