First Annual Nantucket Green Crab Derby with the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association

Kelly Bernatzky • July 20, 2021

As part of the Second Annual Nantucket Green Crab Week, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) hosted the first ever Nantucket Green Crab Derby on July 16. Nantucket Green Crab Week is a collaboration between the MMA and Nantucket Land Council (NLC), offering a full week of daily activities to learn about and take action against invasive European green crabs on Nantucket.

 

European green crabs were first introduced to North America in the 1800s, likely traveling in ballast water of merchant ships from Europe. This invasive species is now abundant on Nantucket, threatening crucial aquatic resources, including eelgrass beds, shellfish populations, and native crab communities here on the island.

 

Together with thirteen active teams and forty-nine participants, the Nantucket Green Crab Derby collected over 650 individual green crabs weighing approximately thirty-one pounds. Considering females can release up to 185,000 larvae per season, the Derby may have prevented up to 60 million larval baby green crabs from entering Nantucket’s waters this year!

 

The grand prize winning team, “Crabby Middle Schooler,” collected 7.4 lbs. of green crabs. The second place team, “Nana Claws,” was very close with 6.2 lbs. and the highest number of individual crabs, totaling 232. The largest crab prize went to “The Green Crab Hunters” who collected an enormous 5.0 oz. green crab. “The Bronner 4” took home the prize for Best Decorated Crab with their crab named “Tamatoa” featuring a jingle shell and barnacles. “Crabby Middle Schooler” received an honorable mention for their well-decorated crab, “Shelley,” featuring a well-placed jingle shell! Both “Tamatoa” and “Shelley” will be on display at the Maria Mitchell Aquarium.

 

Though Nantucket Green Crab Week is over, anyone is welcome to join the MMA’s Citizen Science project on Green Crabs by helping conduct Green Crab Surveys. The more submissions the MMA receives, the better we can target green crabs where they are most abundant, track their movement preferences, and see how they use Nantucket’s sensitive eelgrass beds. To participate and learn more about this invasive species, please visit the Maria Mitchell Association Green Crab Research webpage at https://www.mariamitchell.org/the-green-crab. 

 

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

 

Nantucket Land Council is a 501(c)3 environmental advocacy organization – protecting and preserving open space, harbor, pond, and groundwater, and advocating for the environment at Select Board, Planning Board, and Conservation Commission meetings. The Nantucket Land Council also hosts the State of the Harbor Forum each year and Oysterfest each November to educate residents on the state of our water resources, and what we can all do to help maintain this critical resource. For more information on the Nantucket Land Council’s environmental work and initiatives, please visit https://www.nantucketlandcouncil.org. 

For Immediate Release

July 20 2021

Contact: Kelly Bernatzky, Development Associate

kbernatzky@mariamitchell.org

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By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 3, 2025
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