First month

 Hi, I’m Arianny. 

Two marine species I have encountered so far in July are a European green crab and a striped bass.

At Courageous Sailing, a child caught a striped bass. Striped bass are also known as stripers, line-sider, and rockfish. They can live up to 30 years and can weigh from 5-20 pounds. You can find this species along the East Coast. They can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Striped bass eats a large variety of food; things like squid, soft clams, sea worms, alewives, etc. They play an important role in the food web by controlling the prey population.

 

At Piers Park Sailing Center and Courageous Sailing, there are tons of European green crabs caught. We catch many of the crabs in the crab trap, but when fishing on the dock, it’s what kids tend to mostly catch. They can measure from 2.5-4 inches in length. European green crab is native to Europe and North Africa but is invasive in North America. They can be found near shore, typically in shallow waters. They feed on many organisms like clams, oysters, squid, etc. The European green crab is known to be one of the most invasive species in the marine environment. 

I have enjoyed my time at Piers Park. I have a bond with all my coworkers at the site, and we worked together throughout our stay. My favorite day at this site was my last day. I got to work one last day with the kids, and then I went sailing and kayaking. Going into Piers Park, I didn’t think I’d like it, but I befriended many of the kids there and I enjoyed the time I got to spend there. It wouldn’t have been as fun as it was without my SHE, Fatima there.

 

I’m excited to be a part of All Access now and try out new things. I'm sad to be leaving Piers Park, but I’m happy I get to try something new.

See you next time.

Sources: 

https://www.fws.gov/species/rockfish-morone-saxatilis

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/habitat-conservation/look-out-invasive-crab#:~:text=The%20green%20crab%20is%20considered,as%20well%20as%20juvenile%20salmon.