October 13, 2022 — On Monday, Alaska officials made an unprecedented announcement.
For the first time ever, they canceled the winter snow crab harvest in the Bering Sea.
They also nixed the fall Bristol Bay red king crab harvest for the second year in a row.
Jamie Goen, executive director of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, says the total cancellation of the season came as a surprise.
“We were hoping for at least a small season,” Goen said. “It’s been devastating to get this news, and our fishermen are in shock and trying to figure out what’s next. ‘Cause we’re heading in to the second year now of record low levels for our king crab stocks and our snow crab stocks in Alaska.”
Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers represents around 350 people and a fleet of 60 vessels. They fish for king, snow and bairdi crabs in Alaska waters, and many of their boats are based in Seattle.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife says it’s trying to balance the needs of long-term conservation efforts, and the sustainability of crab stock.
A few years ago, Snow crab populations suddenly collapsed – likely the result of a warming event in the Bering Sea. Meanwhile the population of mature female red king crabs have been in steep decline since 2008.
Goen says this decision will have a major impact on their fishermen.
“There’s gonna be many boats tying up with the dock this year. Our vessels are facing bankruptcy,” she said. “They’re having to lay off crew and some of these crew had been working on these boats for 10 and 20 years.”