The Secret Lives of Crabs, Shrimp & Creatures Lurking in the Salish Sea
About this Event
University of Washington biologist Dr. Greg Jensen explores the surprising behaviors and unsung ecological roles of crustaceans during Annie Crawley’s Environmental Speaker Series at The Edmonds Waterfront Center
A fish opens its mouth and lets a shrimp climb inside. The shrimp gets a meal and the fish gets a cleaning. It is the sort of underwater arrangement often associated with tropical reefs, yet it happens here, in our cold waters of the Salish Sea.
For marine biologist and underwater photographer Dr. Greg Jensen, such encounters expose a gap between how familiar crabs and shrimp seem and how little we know about their lives. A Dungeness crab drawn to a baited pot is easily dismissed as a scavenger. Follow it across the seafloor, however, and a different story emerges: a persistent hunter whose excavations feed other animals and whose appetite helps shape the community around it.
On Thursday, November 19, 2026, Jensen brings “The Secret Lives of Crabs, Shrimp and Creatures Lurking in the Salish Sea” to the Edmonds Waterfront Center as part of Annie Crawley’s Environmental Speaker Series. Drawing on more than 50 years of diving in the Pacific Northwest, he will share photographs, video, and observations that challenge familiar assumptions about these animals. His stories begin with the pleasure of watching closely—and lead to discoveries that even the textbooks have missed.
An instructor at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Jensen has spent decades investigating the behavior and ecology of crustaceans. His presentation follows the evidence into a world where a crab can locate a clam by tasting with its feet, then move rocks and sediment to reach it. The resulting meal attracts fish and other animals, giving them access to food that had been buried beyond their reach. When crabs feed on barnacles, they also clear space where other organisms can settle. Their influence extends well beyond what they eat.
Even the shells left on a beach have stories to tell. A chipped opening or a distinctive break can offer clues to the predator responsible. Jensen brings humor to this underwater detective work, inviting audiences to notice details they might otherwise walk past. His photographs and video also reveal shrimp disappearing into sand in an instant and crabs catching prey far more mobile than their slow-moving reputations would suggest.
These observations raise a larger question: how much of life in our local waters remains unfamiliar simply because we have not spent enough time watching? Accounts of fish-cleaning and other relationships in cold water challenge assumptions about where such partnerships occur. They also show why careful observation matters, even when the animals involved seem commonplace.
“Every presentation in this series helps us see our underwater backyard through a new lens,” says Crawley.
Hosted by award-winning producer, photographer, filmmaker, author, and ocean advocate Annie Crawley, this family-friendly evening welcomes beachcombers, divers, students, and anyone curious about the Salish Sea. Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the presentation beginning at 6:30 PM.
The Environmental Speaker Series brings internationally recognized scientists, conservation leaders, educators, and explorers to Edmonds to connect the public with the latest discoveries shaping the future of the Salish Sea. Through compelling presentations and community conversations, the series inspires curiosity, stewardship, and a deeper understanding of our shared underwater backyard.
About Dr. Greg Jensen
Greg Jensen, PhD, is an instructor and capstone coordinator at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and teaches Crustacean Biology at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre in British Columbia. He earned his doctorate in fisheries and invertebrate ecology at UW in 1990. His research includes crab feeding behavior, camouflage, interactions with invasive European green crabs, and descriptions of new shrimp species. He is the author of Crabs and Shrimps of the Pacific Coast and coauthor of Beneath Pacific Tides. A Pacific Northwest diver for more than 50 years and an avid underwater photographer, he lives in Bremerton with his wife, dive buddy, and fellow crab biologist Pam as well as several troublesome turtles.
About Annie Crawley
Annie Crawley—known as Ocean Annie—is an award-winning filmmaker, underwater photographer, author, and educator who connects people to nature through visual storytelling, education, and ocean advocacy. A member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, she leads the Our Ocean and You campaign and curates this Environmental Speaker Series, bringing science and storytelling together to inspire environmental stewardship.
Learn more at www.AnnieCrawley.com and www.YouTube.com/AnnieCrawley
Subtitles and Closed Captioning will be provided for our guests who are deaf and hard of hearing. The EWC also offers Assistive Listening devices available to check out or connect with your smart phone.
Reserve your seat online ~ walk-ins are welcome the night of the event based on available seating.
General Admission tickets: $7.50
Students 19 and under (with student ID) are Free!
ONLINE TICKET SALES END AT 4pm ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Special thank you to our event sponsor
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 7.50
