Crab Closures, Cutbacks in Bering Sea
The catch for snow crab - Alaska’s largest Bering Sea crab fishery – has been slashed to just 5.6 million pounds for the upcoming season, down 88% from the previous harvest of 45 million pounds.
Just three years ago, managers were touting a huge snow crab cohort poised to enter the fishery. But this summer’s survey showed the crabs had practically disappeared. Scientists blame predation by cod, disease and a warming sea bottom that’s pushed the snow crab to deeper waters further west. They say evidence points to a downturn in population and not just...
To Read Full Story Login Below.