AgricultureAlaskaBering SeaCrabsGeneral NewsU.S. News Alaska Fishermen Granted Permission to Harvest Red King Crab in Bering Sea for First Time in Two Years by Ethan Kim October 8, 2023 written by Ethan Kim October 8, 2023 1 comment Bookmark 27 Fishermen in Alaska will once again be able to catch red king crab in the Bering Sea, after a two-year hiatus that saw the fishery grappling with significantly reduced crab populations, potentially due to climate change impacts. In contrast, there will be no resumption for the snow crab fishery, which will remain closed for a consecutive year, according to a statement from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game released this past Friday. Mark Stichert, who serves as the Ground Fish and Shellfish Management Coordinator for the state department, indicated that “The previous two seasons for Bristol Bay red king crab were closed owing to decreased abundance, particularly a noticeable drop in mature female crabs. This year’s surveys, however, show a mild improvement in numbers, offering cautious optimism for the overall health of Bristol Bay red king crab. As a result, a small but restrained fishing season will be permitted in 2023, even though the total population remains substantially low.” The news of the fishery’s reopening has been received positively within the fishing community. “The reopening of the king crab season is much welcomed and will provide some crucial economic relief,” remarked Gabriel Prout, a third-generation fisherman and president of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, a nonprofit trade organization. However, Prout also mentioned that there would likely be a reduction in the number of boats participating this season, due to challenges such as finding adequate crew and financial constraints for boat maintenance. Survey analyses conducted by both the state and the National Marine Fisheries Service confirmed that the numbers of spawning and mature female red king crab have surpassed the minimum thresholds required to permit fishing in Bristol Bay. Fishermen are authorized to harvest a total of 2.1 million pounds (952,500 kilograms) of red king crab during the three-month season, starting on October 15, as declared by the state. Historically, the red king crab fishery peaked in 1980 with a catch of nearly 130 million pounds (59 million kilograms), but has been on a decline for the subsequent three decades. The last significant haul was in 2020, when more than 2.65 million pounds (1.2 million kilograms) were captured. Although the red king crab fishery was shut down for the past two years, the snow crab season was also cancelled last year. Conservation concerns led state officials to extend the closure of the snow crab fishery for another year. The Tanner crab fishery, however, will proceed as usual. Adult mature male Tanner crab populations exceeded the minimum required levels, offering a glimmer of hope for future seasons. The total allowable catch for Tanner crab in the western Bering Sea has been set at 1.3 million pounds (589,700 kilograms), and the eastern Bering Sea will have a cap of 760,000 pounds (344,700 kilograms). This fishery will also commence on October 15 and continue until March 31. These decisions were made in the wake of unprecedented closures for the snow crab and red king crab fisheries due to alarmingly low populations discovered in annual surveys conducted in 2021. Scientists speculate that this decline is attributable to climate change effects such as reduced sea ice cover and unusually warm ocean temperatures, which may have disrupted the marine ecosystem to the detriment of snow crab survival. In the 2020 season, snow crab catches amounted to nearly 45 million pounds (20.4 million kilograms) with a value of almost $106 million, as per data from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The subsequent season saw a drastic reduction to 5.5 million pounds (2.5 million kilograms) valued at just over $24 million. The 2022 closure had severe economic implications for commercial fishermen in Kodiak, Alaska, causing a substantial loss of income for some. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce earmarked nearly $192 million to aid fishermen adversely affected by the 2021 and 2022 closures of the red king crab and snow crab fisheries. However, there is skepticism among fishermen regarding the timeliness of this financial assistance. Reported by Bickel from Cincinnati. This climate and environmental coverage is made possible through the support of several private foundations. For further information on this climate initiative, please visit AP’s dedicated page. The AP retains full responsibility for the content of this report. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alaska red king crab fisheryWhy was the red king crab fishery in Alaska’s Bering Sea closed for two years?Is there any good news for the snow crab fishery in Alaska?How has the red king crab fishery been affected by the reopening?What are the catch limits for the red king crab fishery in the Bering Sea?What has been the historical trend for the red king crab fishery in terms of catch?Why was the snow crab fishery closed, and what impact did it have?Is there any assistance for fishermen affected by the closures?More about Alaska red king crab fishery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alaska red king crab fishery Why was the red king crab fishery in Alaska’s Bering Sea closed for two years? The red king crab fishery in the Bering Sea was closed for two years due to significantly low crab populations, which were likely exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. The closure was primarily based on low abundance, particularly of mature-sized female crabs, making it necessary to conserve the crab population. Is there any good news for the snow crab fishery in Alaska? Unfortunately, there is no good news for the snow crab fishery in Alaska. It will remain closed for a second consecutive year. Conservation concerns and low crab populations have led to the continued closure of this fishery. How has the red king crab fishery been affected by the reopening? While the red king crab fishery has been reopened after a two-year closure, there are challenges. Fishermen expect fewer boats to participate in the season due to difficulties in finding crew members and financial constraints for boat maintenance. What are the catch limits for the red king crab fishery in the Bering Sea? Fishermen in the red king crab fishery are allowed to catch a total of 2.1 million pounds (952,500 kilograms) of red king crab during a three-month season starting on October 15. What has been the historical trend for the red king crab fishery in terms of catch? The red king crab fishery in the Bering Sea saw its peak in 1980 when nearly 130 million pounds (59 million kilograms) were caught. However, catch levels have declined over the past three decades, with the last significant haul occurring in 2020 when over 2.65 million pounds (1.2 million kilograms) were captured. Why was the snow crab fishery closed, and what impact did it have? The snow crab fishery was closed due to concerns about conservation and extremely low crab populations. This closure had a significant economic impact on commercial fishermen in Kodiak, Alaska, with some losing a substantial portion of their income. Is there any assistance for fishermen affected by the closures? The U.S. Department of Commerce allocated nearly $192 million to assist fishermen affected by the closures of both the red king crab and snow crab fisheries in 2021 and 2022. However, there is uncertainty among fishermen about the timeliness of this financial aid. More about Alaska red king crab fishery Alaska Department of Fish and Game National Marine Fisheries Service AP’s climate initiative (For more information on AP’s climate initiative, please visit their website) You Might Be Interested In Aaron Rodgers Suffers Left Achilles Tendon Injury in Opening Series with the Jets Israel strikes in and around Gaza’s second-largest city in a bloody new phase of the war Republicans threaten contempt proceedings if Hunter Biden refuses to appear for deposition House Republicans Initiate Impeachment Inquiry into President Biden Michigan Files Felony Charges Against 16 ‘Fraudulent’ Trump Electors for Violation of Election Laws and Forgery Delay Due to Incorrect Address and Inclement Weather Hampers Firefighters, Resulting in 15 Fatalities at a Philippine Factory agricultureAlaskaBering SeaClimate changeCrabseconomic impactfisheryfishing industryGeneral Newsred king crabsnow crab Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Ethan Kim Follow Author Ethan Kim is a world news reporter who covers breaking news stories from around the globe. He has reported on everything from natural disasters to international conflicts, and he is dedicated to bringing his readers accurate and timely information. previous post ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ Secures Box Office Leadership with $27.2 Million Debut next post Israel Initiates Military Campaign and Intensifies Airstrikes on Gaza in Response to Hamas Attacks You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 1 comment Fisher24 October 9, 2023 - 2:18 pm 2.1 million pounds? thats a lotta crab! hope they find enuf crew Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ