News

OIMB study looks to see if oceanic changes are impacting Dungeness

October 30, 2017

http://www.currypilot.com/news/localnews/5696838-151/pair-study-effect-of-acidity-warm-water-on

….”Galloway and Schram plan to study over the next two years if Dungeness crabs are even affected by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the ocean that result in an increase in acidity, or pH, in that water.
Research on bivalves — hard-shelled mollusks, such as clams, oysters and mussels — has shown that increased acidity in the water makes it difficult to build shells. But very little research has been conducted on crabs, whose shells aren’t as hard.

“It’s pretty well-known that shell-forming bivalves can have some serious challenges,” said Galloway, a former fisherman from Juneau, Alaska. “I’m excited about Dungeness crabs because they’re such an important part of our economy. I’m interested in long-term, sustainable fisheries, and the Dungeness crab is a really good fishery in that regard. It’s in really good shape.”….