CRAB

Fleet Reports Slow Fishing, Big Crab, As Red King Crab Fishery Trends Toward Closure

By • Nov 19, 2019
Laura Kraegel/KUCB

Next fall, the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery could face its first closure in 25 years.

This season, the 54-vessel fleet has reported slow, spotty fishing, and the stock continues to show signs of decline. The current quota — 3.8 million pounds — is the lowest since the fishery was rationalized in 2005.

Red King Crab Quota Down 12% As Stock Trends 'Toward Fishery Closure Thresholds'

By • Oct 15, 2019
Laura Kraegel/KUCB

Commercial fishing opens Tuesday, Oct. 15 for Bristol Bay red king crab.

This season, the declining population has forced managers to set the total allowable catch (TAC) at 3.8 million pounds.

That number is 12 percent lower than last year, as well as the lowest since the fishery was rationalized in 2005. Even if fishermen catch all of the TAC, it'll be the smallest harvest since 1982.

Fishing Quotas Announced: Red King Crab Down, Snow Crab Up, And No Tanner Crab Season

By • Oct 7, 2019
Laura Kraegel/KUCB

With the fishing season starting next week, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has released crab quotas for Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea.

The total allowable catch for red king crab is 3.8 million pounds. That's about 12 percent less than last season, as well as the lowest since the fishery's rationalization in 2005.

St. Matthew Blue King Crab Added To NOAA's 'Overfished' List

By • Sep 3, 2019
Alaska Department of Fish and Game

As blue king crab fisheries continue to struggle in the Bering Sea, another stock has been added to the nation's "overfished" list. 

Every year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports to Congress on the status of U.S. fisheries. The report highlights which stocks are in "overfishing" and "overfished" status, as well as which stocks have been rebuilt. 

Quotas Increase Again For Golden King Crab, With Aleutian Stocks In 'Good Shape'

By • Aug 7, 2019
Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Fishing quotas for Aleutian Islands golden king crab are up again this year.

East of Atka, commercial fishermen can harvest 4.3 million pounds. To the west, they can take almost 2.9 million.

Those numbers represent 12- and 15-percent increases over last season, according to management biologist Miranda Westphal of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

"Things are looking good," said Westphal. "We're seeing some recruitment coming in. We're seeing females with eggs. We're seeing that both stocks look like they're in fairly good shape right now."

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