The Bering Sea red king crab fishery was closed in 2021 and 2022 due to low numbers. This year’s stocks rebounded enough for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
For the first time in two years, Alaskan fishermen will be able to harvest red king crabs, which have slightly recovered from a population decline likely exacerbated by climate change
Alaska fishermen will be able to harvest red king crab for the first time in two years, offering a slight reprieve to the beleaguered fishery beset by low numbers likely exacerbated by climate change. There was no such rebound for snow crab, however, and that fishery will remain closed for a second straight year, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Friday. “Based on survey results from this year, those numbers have improved, some signs of modest optimism in terms of improving abundance in Bristol Bay red king crab overall and that has allowed for a small but still conservative fishery for 2023 as the total population size is still quite low,” he said.