FREEPORT – Brian Beal, a marine ecology professor, was scheduled to discuss his findings on a green crab study during Tuesday’s meeting of the Freeport Town Council.

The meeting was held after the Tri-Town Weekly publication deadline.

Town Manager Peter Joseph said Monday afternoon that he had not yet seen the study results.

Freeport dedicated $100,000 last May to study clam flats and decide how to deal with the declining clam population and the encroachment of the green crab. Freeport is believed to be the only municipality in the state to be underwriting such an effort. Beal, a professor at the University of Maine at Machias, headed up the study.

Clint Goodenow of Freeport, a member of the Maine Clammers Association, said Monday that the physical aspect of the study was revealing. Last summer, clammers fenced in an area of Recompense Cove, hoping to deter green crabs from invading the cove and feeding on the soft-shell clams.

“The best thing would be for an area to be fenced or trapped, so that we could catch and protect more wild clam seed, before it falls into the mud,” Goodenow said.

– Larry Grard