Interlopers are coming into California by land, by sea … and by FedEx. That’s what happened with the European green crab, a voracious cannibal that stowed away in packages of worms sent by overnight delivery to commercial fishermen in California. Unknown to anyone, the tiny crustaceans were concealed in seaweed that wrapped the cargo and were freed into the Pacific when fishermen tossed it overboard. Then the green crabs, which a century ago decimated the East Coast’s shellfish industry, began to dine out in the Pacific, munching nearly everything in sight. Authorities made plans to rid the ocean of the pests.
April 18, 2021
It s nothing less than an invasion. Interlopers are coming into California by land, by sea…and by FedEx.
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That s what happened with the European green crab, a voracious cannibal that stowed away in packages of worms sent by overnight delivery to commercial fishermen in California. Unknown to anyone, the tiny crustaceans were concealed in seaweed that wrapped the cargo and were freed into the Pacific when fishermen tossed it overboard.
Then the green crabs, which a century ago decimated the East Coast s shellfish industry, began to dine out in the Pacific, munching nearly everything in sight. Authorities made plans to rid the ocean of the pests.
Soak up the outdoors in Marin County this spring
By
Apr 15, 2021
As spring fever spreads sunshine, wildflowers, and chances for outdoor activities, family road trippers are packing the car for Marin, where some of the country s most iconic mountain coastlines serve as a backdrop for world-class exploration.
Hike Muir Woods
Spring has arrived in one of Marin s most majestic nature spots: Muir Woods. Described by conservationist John Muir as the best tree-lovers monument that could be possibly found, this collection of old-growth coast redwood trees attracts nearly a million domestic and international tourists each year.
Hiking the monument s six miles of trails and paths brings you deep into the ancient groves, many older than 600 years. It s a fleeting opportunity (the crowds come quickly) but the further you hike into the woods, the more powerful and majestic the trees become.
Jump to navigation David Briggs
By 04/14/2021
Scientists have given up hope on fully eradicating the invasive European green crabs that dominate the Seadrift Lagoon, after a research effort there went awry. They are now recommending keeping the population at a manageable threshold.
The attempt to eliminate the species, which is ranked among the 100 worst invasives worldwide, in the lagoon was nearing success until 2014, when the population exploded by a magnitude of 30. The explanation? Scientists had focused on taking the adult crabs, but because they are cannibalistic and consume their young, their absence inadvertently allowed the population to proliferate.
“A failure in science often leads to unexpected directions,” said Dr. Ted Grosholz, a professor and ecologist with the University of California, Davis. “We slapped our foreheads at the time, but with thought and understanding, it’s told us a lot about what we shouldn’t be doing and provided
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By 04/14/2021
An eight-unit affordable housing complex planned for downtown Bolinas has received permits from the Marin County Planning Commission, which issued the approval despite pushback from community members primarily concerned with the project’s size.
In a 5:1 vote, commissioners on Monday approved the coastal permit, use permit and design review requested by Bolinas Community Land Trust. The proposed development at 31 Wharf Road includes two complexes comprised of four 1,350-square-foot, three-bedroom units, four 945-square-foot, two-bedroom units and two commercial spaces at street level. The housing will be dedicated to those who qualify as low and very low-income. Although some public commenters expressed discontent with the design, the majority voiced the strong need for affordable housing in Bolinas.