PORTLAND, Maine - If we eat them, will they go away? That's the focus of a seafood summit in Portland on Wednesday that is tackling the subject of invasive green crabs.
The crabs are a problem for New England shellfish because they are relentless predators of marketable species such as clams.
The little crabs are also nearly useless themselves because there is little market for them. But the Green Crab Working Summit is bringing together seafood industry professionals with scientists, educators and chefs to try to brainstorm a solution.
Maine fishery regulators are hungry for a solution because the crabs are a growing problem along the state's coast. The summit will look at everything from using green crabs for gourmet cuisine to turning them into food supplements or bait.