HomeMy WebLinkAboutDungeness Crab Larval MonitoringName of the project:Building Capacity for Coastal Dungeness Crab Larval Monitoring and Inclusion in a
Region-Wide Collaborative Effort
1.Lead organization and Contact:
Ally Galiotto,Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF)
Larval Crab Monitoring Program Coordinator
pnwcrab@gmail.com
(650)218-3433
8001 NE Day Rd W
Bainbridge Is,WA 98110
2.Start and end dates for your project:
January 2024 –June 2025
3.Deliverables:
●Site specific monitoring strategy and plan -March,2024,revised March,2025
●Updated and improved light trap construction guide,sampling protocol,instructional videos,and
other resources,shared with the broader PCRG network and made publicly available on the
pnwcrab.com website –March 15,2025
●5 quality project photos –June 1,2025
●MRC newsletter article –June 1,2025
●Presentation to the NPC MRC and Olympic Coast Sanctuary Advisory Council (as appropriate)–
June 1,2025
4.Project staff:
Ally Galiotto –Larval Crab Monitoring Program Coordinator
Ally has been supporting the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PCRG)larval crab program
since January 2023,and previously volunteered at a PCRG light trap site while earning her
undergraduate degree.Her role involves liaising with PCRG partners,maintaining shared
resources,overseeing data submission and management,and composing network
communications.
Emily Buckner –Dungeness Crab Research Program Manager (Puget Sound Restoration Fund)
Emily has managed the PCRG larval crab monitoring program since 2020 and has overseen 3
successful sampling seasons,with 20 participating field sites.Emily’s role is to supervise network
coordination,with an emphasis on ensuring engagement,data quality,and application by
facilitating technical meetings and workshops.
5.Partners:
We have conducted initial outreach with partners participating in larval Dungeness crab monitoring in a
more limited capacity (Makah and Quileute tribes)to begin to ascertain interest and need for additional
support through this project.We will work to secure letters of commitment from participating partners
prior to initiation of project,as requested by the funders,to ensure the matching contribution of partner
staff time (detailed in budget).
6.Geographic Area:
While the PCRG larval crab monitoring network manages light trap sites across Washington state,this
project will focus specifically on providing additional support to sites along the outer coast in Jefferson
and Clallam Counties.
Figure 1.Map of PCRG’s light trap monitoring sites in Washington in 2023.
7.Permits:
A scientific collection permit is required for each data collection site,either from WDFW or the
appropriate tribal government.
8.Project Narrative:
a)Abstract
This proposal seeks to augment the scope and quality of larval Dungeness crab population data collected
along the outer coast of Washington,which will ultimately be used at the discretion of fisheries
management to advance predictive models for harvestable abundance.This will be accomplished by 1)
working directly with outer coast monitoring sites to increase support and capacity for ongoing sampling
efforts and 2)updating and refining equipment and shared resources across the monitoring network to
ensure the resulting dataset is robust and standardized.This work will be conducted within the Pacific
Northwest Crab Research Group’s (PCRG)collaborative network (coordinated by Puget Sound
Restoration Fund),formed in 2018 to close critical knowledge gaps and support sustainable fisheries
management for Dungeness crab.PCRG’s larval crab monitoring program spans waters across
Washington and British Columbia,and three new sites along Washington’s outer coast were
incorporated in 2023.This expansion is pivotal in providing crucial data on larval crab abundance along
the coast,which provides a baseline for future coastal harvest forecasts,supports comparative analyses
between coastal and inland larval populations,and highlights potential connections between
subpopulations.Unfortunately,some PCRG partners face constraints with time,equipment,and funding
that hinder their ability to sample continuously throughout the larval delivery season,resulting in an
incomplete and discontinuous larval abundance dataset along the outer coast.Furthermore,slight
variations in the equipment used between sites may impact the quality of data collected and the
interpretation of larval distribution across the region.The proposed project would provide essential
support to PCRG’s coastal partners by providing updated and improved equipment,resources,and
coordinator guidance to help ensure a fully standardized,ongoing coastal datastream.
b)Background and Context
The Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PCRG)is a collaborative research network that unites state
and tribal co-managers,federal agencies,academics,and non-profit organizations under the common
goal of understanding and safeguarding Dungeness crab populations across the region.Established in
2018,the group’s formation was catalyzed by the need to address critical data gaps that underpin the
sustainable management and harvest of Dungeness crab.This iconic species carries profound cultural,
economic,and ecological significance in the region;it has sustained indigenous communities since time
immemorial,supports a highly lucrative commercial fishery,and plays a vital role in the marine food
web.State and tribal fishery co-managers rely on previous commercial catch and recreational estimates
when determining harvest quotas,meaning very little biological data is currently used to develop
management strategies.Previous research has confirmed the vulnerability of Dungeness crab –
particularly its larval stage –to changing ocean conditions.Recognizing this vulnerability,a
comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of early life history stages can help guide co-managers in
the development of adaptive management plans to ensure a sustainable and resilient fishery in the face
of a variable climate.
In an effort to gain a better understanding of larval dynamics and the temporal and spatial patterns of
recruitment in the region,and to provide fisheries co-managers with relevant biological data,PCRG
members began monitoring larval Dungeness crab abundance in 2019 by deploying light traps off of
docks and piers to attract and capture larval crabs (Fig.2).Over the past five years,61 sites across
Washington and British Columbia have collected data as part of PCRG’s light trap monitoring network.
One of the primary goals of this initiative is to test the hypothesis that larval crab abundance can predict
adult crab abundance four years later,a connection that was previously identified in Coos Bay,Oregon
(Shanks et al.2010).Ultimately,the data collected by the monitoring network will be shared with
co-managers to be used at their discretion in fisheries management decision making.PCRG’s network
and type of data collection also lends itself well to being leveraged by additional research studies or
education/outreach activities.For example,in 2022,partners in the light trap monitoring network began
collecting larval Dungeness crab for a region-wide genetic analysis.This study adds a new layer of insight
to the project’s scope,potentially shedding light on the diverse genetic makeup of Dungeness crabs
across Washington’s coast and within the Salish Sea.Additional examples include partners using the
same light traps to simultaneously monitor for European green crab larvae,as well as conducting
outreach with local fishers and members of the community while sampling out at public docks and piers.
Figure 2.Light traps used to attract and capture Dungeness crab larvae at PCRG monitoring sites.
Project Area
While a majority of PCRG’s monitoring sites are located in Puget Sound,in 2023,the light trap network
expanded its reach into the outer coast and incorporated three new sites (managed by the Makah Tribe,
Shoalwater Bay Tribe,and WA Department of Fish and Wildlife)in Clallam,Grays Harbor,and Pacific
Counties.The recent inclusion of coastal sites highlighted how much the larval crab monitoring network
had been centered in the Salish Sea,developing data collection protocols and equipment with a focus on
inland sites rather than coastal sites,which may have different equipment and sampling infrastructure
needs.
An accurate and consistent datastream on larval crab abundance along the outer coast would be highly
valuable to both PCRG members and fisheries managers across Washington State.With enough data,a
single light trap site on the outer coast may be able to forecast coast-wide fishery harvest,aligning with
the principles established by Shanks et al.(2010)that link recruitment with future population levels.This
predictive capacity could empower coastal managers to forecast commercial catch and anticipate years
of low abundance,enabling them to proactively adjust management strategies to ensure the continued
health and sustainability of the fishery.A coastal dataset would also benefit inland fisheries managers,as
an understanding of larval abundance and genetics on the outer coast is imperative for conducting
comparative analyses.This data would aid our understanding of the dynamics between potentially
distinct subpopulations,and would help determine whether the patterns of larval abundance and
distribution that the network has observed in Puget Sound over the past several years are consistent
with coastal dynamics.
The Problem
The active engagement of PCRG partners underscores their commitment,as they independently fund
their involvement in the light trap network and purchase recommended equipment based on existing
protocols.However,subtle variations in the equipment used across sites can complicate data analysis
and skew the interpretation of larval distribution.As the network enters its sixth year of monitoring and
continues to expand,maintaining the quality and standardization of collected data is paramount.In
some cases,logistical constraints and budgetary limitations prevent partners from monitoring larval crab
abundance on a continuous basis throughout the monitoring season (April -September).Instead,these
sites –including several on the outer coast –deploy light traps on a weekly basis to collect genetics
samples.While these sampling efforts are invaluable,the resulting data does not provide a clear picture
of larval recruitment patterns on the coast,and the network is unable to compare coastal abundance to
other sites on a continuous time series.In these cases,sites may benefit from additional support from
PCRG coordinators,or more specifically,assistance with volunteer outreach and engagement to bolster a
site’s capacity for ongoing sampling and data collection efforts.
The Solution
Ultimately,this proposal aims to provide crucial support to monitoring sites on the outer coast and equip
these partners with the tools and resources they need for successful ongoing monitoring.This would
include site-specific sampling plans,dedicated equipment funds,and coordinator time and travel to help
deploy light traps and coordinate monitoring efforts.Developing improved protocols and resources will
help ensure that the larval crab monitoring network generates a fully standardized datastream,and will
guarantee that the data collected remains accurate,representative,and comparable across the entire
network.
c)MRC Benchmarks
This proposal addresses four of the benchmarks defined by the Coastal MRC Program Work Group:
Marine Life,Sound Science,Education and Outreach,and Coastal Communities.
●Marine Life –This proposal aims to support PCRG’s light trap monitoring network,which has the
underlying mission of understanding,protecting,and stewarding Dungeness crab populations
in Washington State.Ultimately,the data collected by this network will be used to make
scientifically-based recommendations about management tools for Dungeness crab in the
Pacific Northwest.
●Sound Science –This project will utilize established scientific protocols for the collection,
analysis,and use of larval crab abundance data,and will help ensure the collection of high
quality data across PCRG’s light trap monitoring network.
●Education and Outreach –Due to PCRG’s collaborative nature,this project will help expand
partnerships with tribal governments on the outer coast,and will help maintain and improve
coordination and communication among stakeholders and managers in the Dungeness crab
fishery by centralizing shared resources and standardizing a pivotal datastream.
●Coastal Communities -PCRG is committed to supporting sustainable marine resource-based
industries,and this project will support the cultural and economic integrity of coastal
communities by expanding light trap monitoring and citizen science efforts in the region.The
data resulting from this project will ultimately help increase sustainable access to marine
resource enjoyment and harvest by providing crucial context for future management decisions
in the Dungeness crab fishery.
d)Project Objectives
1.Support coastal partners interested in establishing larval crab monitoring by co-developing site
specific plans,including personalized equipment and data collection needs.
2.Update and improve light trap construction guides,sampling protocols,and shared resources to
ensure that data collection and sampling methods are fully standardized across the network.
e)Timeline
January 2024 –Meet with outer coast partners to identify areas where support is needed.
February -March 2024 –Begin assessing light trap design;coordinate site visits on the outer coast to
assist with site selection,sampling plans,and trap construction/deployment.
April -September 2024 –Support sites throughout the monitoring season;coordinate additional site
visits as needed;film updated sampling protocol video;gather feedback on light trap design/sampling
protocol from partners across the network.
October 2024 -February 2025 –Finalize updated light trap design,construction guide,and protocols;
film instructional light trap construction video;purchase updated equipment for outer coast sites;
coordinate site visits.
March 2025 –Distribute updated resources to the PCRG network and publish on the pnwcrab.com
website.
April -May 2025 –Support sites throughout the monitoring season.
June 2025 –Submit 5 project photos and a newsletter article to the NPC MRC;present to the NPC MRC
and Olympic Coast Sanctuary Science Advisory Committee (as appropriate).
f)Methods and Equipment
Objective 1.Support coastal partners interested in establishing larval crab monitoring by co-developing
site specific plans,including personalized equipment and data collection needs.
●Meet with outer coast partners to determine their individual needs for the upcoming monitoring
season(s).This could include:
○Conducting regular site visits
○Assisting with light trap site selection
○Purchasing updated equipment
○Assisting with light trap construction
○Creating a sampling plan for continuous/ongoing monitoring
○Supporting volunteer outreach/engagement for increased data collection capacity
Objective 2.Update and improve light trap construction guides,sampling protocols,and shared
resources to ensure data and sampling methods are fully standardized across the network.
●Update light trap construction guide and materials list,drawing from Shanks et al.(2010)design
and methods,existing PCRG resources (developed by Swinomish Indian Tribal Community),and
feedback/insights/suggested improvements from PCRG partners.
○Assess the impact of lighting unit intensity and color (i.e.,standardize the bait).
○Assess factors in light trap design that limit mortality (e.g.,length of cod end,mesh size,
etc.).
○Determine best available equipment from verified vendors,considering quality,
availability,and cost-effectiveness.
●Update sampling protocol based on equipment changes.
●Create step-by-step videos on light trap construction and sampling methods.
●Distribute updated resources to the PCRG network and post publicly to the pnwcrab.com
website.
g)Extent and Impact
PCRG’s larval crab monitoring network spans Washington’s coastal waters and inland Puget Sound,
stretching from Pacific to Whatcom Counties.This proposal aims to provide individualized support to
light trap sites on the outer coast,while benefiting the network as a whole through updated shared
resources.Many sites enlist the help of volunteers to sample throughout the larval delivery season,
involving citizens directly in the research and data collection process.This project will foster this
involvement along the outer coast,engaging the local community in applied science with implications for
natural resource management.
h)Plans for Continuation
PCRG’s larval crab abundance study is anticipated to be a long-term monitoring effort that could
ultimately form the basis of a Dungeness crab stock assessment and forecast model.This project will
provide the resources and initial investment necessary to pilot an ongoing monitoring program on the
outer coast,which could theoretically become a permanent datastream used in fisheries management.
9.Literature Cited
Shanks,A.,Roegner,G.C.,Miller,J.2010.Using Megalopae Abundance to Predict Future Commercial
Catches of Dungeness Crabs (Cancer Magister)in Oregon.CalCoFI Rep.,Vol.51.
10.Project Budget
Category Detail
MRC
Request
Matching Contribution
(not required)Total
Salaries and
Benefits or hourly
wages
Ally Galiotto -$16,848
(0.3 FTE @ $26/hr,18
months)
Emily Buckner -$2,808
(0.05 FTE @ $46/hr,18
months)$19,656
$10,800 -estimated cost
of partner staff/volunteer
time (@ $30/hr)to
manage 2 sites (~8
hrs/week for 20 weeks,
plus 20 hours of
pre-season prep)
$3,078 -Jodie Toft FTE
(PSRF Deputy Director)
$2,808 -Hannah Garfield
FTE (PSRF Creative
Engagement Specialist)
$2,808 -Emily Buckner
additional FTE $39,150
Supplies/
Equipment
$2,000 (2 light traps and
1 temperature sensor for
2 sites,sampling
incidentals including
tubs,brushes,etc.,and
outreach materials)$2,000 –$2,000
Travel
$1,500 (3 site visits,2
sites -likely Neah Bay
and La Push)$1,500 –$1,500
Contracted
services NA –––
Indirect expenses
(All such expenses
should be
itemized.)
$2,316 (PSRF Indirect
Rate -10%federal de
minimus -used for
financial management of
the award and general
operations (e.g.,utilities,
email)$2,316 –$2,316
Other NA –––
Totals $25,472 $25,472 –$44,966
ALEXANDRA N.GALIOTTO
Puget Sound Restoration Fund |Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group
8001 NE Day Rd W,Bainbridge Is,WA 98110
(650)218-3433 |ally@restorationfund.org
EDUCATION
●University of Washington.BS,Marine Biology.BA,Environmental Studies.2022.
○Capstone:‘Exploring the spatial and temporal variation of Dungeness crab (M.
magister)megalopae across Puget Sound’
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
●Larval Crab Monitoring Program Coordinator,Puget Sound Restoration Fund,Jan.2023 -
Present
○Supports the coordination of the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group,a
region-wide collaborative light trap monitoring network
●Shellfish Biotoxin Monitoring Program Coordinator,Puget Sound Restoration Fund,Mar.
2023 -Present
○Manages volunteer coordination of a biotoxin monitoring program in partnership
with the WA Department of Health
●Crabber Outreach Coordinator Intern,Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee,
Mar.2023 -Present
○Conducts outreach and develops/distributes resources for recreational crabbers
across Jefferson County
SELECT PRESENTATIONS
●‘Recreational Crabber Outreach:Accomplishments and Lessons Learned’–Jefferson
County Marine Resources Committee Monthly Meeting.Port Hadlock,WA.8/1/2023.
●‘Identifying Trends in Dungeness Crab Larval Abundance Across Puget Sound’–
University of Washington Program on the Environment’s Poster Highlights Session.
Seattle,WA.12/7/2022.
SELECT WORKSHOPS (supported/coordinated)
●Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee Crabbing 101 Workshop
(organizer/facilitator).Port Hadlock,WA.6/15/2023.
●Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group Annual Meeting (organizer).House of Awakened
Culture,Suquamish,WA.2/2/2023.
Emily V.Buckner
Puget Sound Restoration Fund ~Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group
375 Hudson Street,Port Townsend,WA 98368
206.240.8339
emily@restorationfund.org
EDUCATION
●University of Washington.MMA,School of Marine and Environmental Affairs,
Seattle,WA.2020.
○Thesis:‘Spatial Foraging Patterns in Puget Sound Pigeon Guillemot
(Cepphus columba):An Investigation Using Stable Isotopes and
Community Science’
●Carleton College.BA,Biology.2015.
○Capstone:‘Making Connections in Human-altered Landscapes:The
Ecological Role of Subsidies in Recipient Systems’
EMPLOYMENT
●Crab and Seaweed Project Manager,Puget Sound Restoration Fund,2021-current
○Coordinates and manages all research projects and administrative needs for the
Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group
●Program Coordinator,Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group,2020-2021
●Research Assistant,Puget Sound Restoration Fund,2019-2020
●Teaching Assistant,University of Washington’s School of Environmental and
Forest Sciences,2020
●Student Assistant,Washington Sea Grant,2018-2020
●Substitute Teacher,The Northwest School,2017-2020
●Field Technician,The Nature Conservancy,2019
●Science Educator,Hurricane Island Foundation,2018
●Executive Assistant,Front Seat,2018
●Instructor Naturalist,YMCA,2015-2017
●Field Technician,National Ecological Observatory Network,2016
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
●Washington Sea Grant Hershman Fellow,2020-2021
●Sigma Xi for Undergraduate Research,2015
PUBLICATIONS
●Buckner,E.,Naar,N.,Adams,G.,Davis,J.,Matson,S.,Tonnes,D.in review.Building
Capacity for Kelp Mariculture in the Salish Sea:Ecological Considerations and Initial
Farm Design Guidance.Marine Fisheries Review.
●Chitarro,P.,Andrews,K.,Tolimieri,N.,Gates,J.,Buckner,E.,Ylitalo,G.,Tonnes,D.in
review.Dietary connections of marine species to kelp and eelgrass of southern
Salish Sea.
●Buckner,E.,Chittaro,P.,Wood,F.,Klinger,T.2022.Identifying Dietary Shifts in
Breeding Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus Columba)Using Different Methods.
Northwestern Naturalist.
●Hollarsmith,J.,Andrews,K.,Naar,N.,Starko,S.,Calloway,M.,Obaza,A.,Buckner,E.,
Tonnes,D.,Selleck,J.,Therriault T.W.2022.Towards a conceptual framework for
managing and conserving marine habitats:a case study of kelp forests in the Salish
Sea.Ecology and Evolution.
●Toft,J.,Dethier,M.,Howe,E.,Buckner,E.,Cordell,J.2021.Restoration Effectiveness of
Living Shorelines in the Salish Sea.Ecological Engineering.
●Buckner,E.V.,D.L.Hernandez,and J.F.Samhouri.(2017)Conserving connectivity:
Human influence on subsidy transfer and relevant restoration efforts.Ambio.
SELECT PRESENTATIONS
●‘Finding Co-Culture Opportunities in Biofouling on Shellfish Farms:A Story of Seaweed
and Basket Cockles in the Salish Sea’-Aquaculture America (New Orleans,LA)2023
●‘Farming Seaweed in the Salish Sea:Potential Ecosystem Effects’-Washington Sea Grant
Seaweed Symposium (Lacy,WA)2022
●‘Sea-Land Seaweed Solutions:New Solutions for Not-so-New Shellfish-Growing
Problems’-Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (Wenatchee,WA)2022
●‘Dungeness Crab in the Salish Sea:A Case Study in Collaborative Research for a
Sustainable Fishing Future’-Port Townsend Marine Science Center/Jefferson County
Marine Resources Committee Public Webinar (zoom)June 21,2022
SELECT WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCE SESSIONS (supported/coordinated)
●Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group Annual Meeting (organizer/facilitator).House of
Awakened Culture,Suquamish.2/2/2023
●Dungeness Crab Research (panel organizer/facilitator).Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference.
4/27/2022
●Dungeness Crab Research (session organizer/facilitator).PCSGA/NSA.9/22/2022.
●Washington State Seaweed Farming Workshop (presenter and co-organizer).
Washington Sea Grant.2/3/2020-2/5/2020