NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 26, 2026Miami-Dade
Maine fisherman Mike Masi harvests invasive green crabs for commercial sale
Fisherman Mike Masi is harvesting invasive green crabs from the York River in Maine to sell them as a food product in New England. The initiative aims to repurpose a species considered a regional pest into a marketable seafood commodity.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
This effort represents a shift in managing the green crab population, which is currently classified as an that threatens local ecosystems.
Key Facts
- Mike Masi is harvesting green crabs from the York River in Maine.
- Green crabs are currently categorized as an invasive species in the region.
- The harvested crabs are being processed for sale as a food product in New England.
- Masi is utilizing interns to assist in the sorting and classification of the crab catch.
Who's Mentioned
personMarissa McMahan“Vice president of fisheries at Manomet Conservation Sciences.”locationNew England“Target market region for the harvested crabs.”organizationPAGU“Restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, serving green crab dishes.”personChad Coffin“Maine clam fisherman reporting declining catches.”personMike Masi“Founder of shell+claw, a company commercially harvesting green crabs.”locationWashington State“Declared a green crab emergency in 2022 with $38 million in funding.”locationYork“Location in Maine where the harvesting takes place.”organizationshell+claw“The only company currently commercially farming green crabs.”organizationAP“Associated Press, the news agency reporting the story.”personCarolyn Tepolt“Evolutionary biologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.”locationMassachusetts“Offers a 40-cent per pound incentive for green crab harvesting.”