Posted on 10/15/2022 3:32:34 AM PDT by EBH
Alaska will cancel the upcoming winter snow crab season in the Bering Sea for the first time, and bar fishers from catching king crabs in the Bristol Bay for a second consecutive year, because of a sharp decline in their estimated population.
This week’s announcements by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game deal a severe blow to fishers that make a living off the crabs. They also bring back to the forefront questions about the role of climate change in the rapid decline of the snow crab population: The number of juvenile snow crabs was at record highs just a few years ago, before some 90 percent of snow crabs mysteriously disappeared ahead of last season.
Alaskan officials said they had consulted carefully with stakeholders before canceling the season. They said they were aware of the impact of the closures on “harvesters, industry, and communities” but that they had to balance economic needs with conservation.
Salmon travel deep into the Pacific. As it warms, many ‘don’t come back.’ “These are truly unprecedented and troubling times for Alaska’s iconic crab fisheries,” said Jamie Goen, executive director of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, a trade association that says it represents some 70 percent of local crab harvesters, in a statement. “Second and third generation crab-fishing families will go out of business due to the lack of meaningful protections by decision-makers to help crab stocks recover.”
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Gee...wonder what country took them or where they went? China maybe?
The King Crab I always bought came from Russia. Wegmans here in Upstate NY sold it. It was the BEST.
Notice how the climbit change 2 cents is interjected dutifully.
Yup. No thought it might be because China over harvested it to feed their population. Which since China has been hoarding food is most likely the reason they went “mysteriously missing.”
“Notice how the climbit change 2 cents is interjected dutifully”
I suspect that was the reason for the article in the first place.
Climate change can do it all, folks!
That’s racist!
“wonder what country took them”
Probably Russia as the Bering sea is partly Russian waters.
Nothing lasts forever. I’m starting to wonder about running out of shrimp.
Shrimp or Prawns are extremely popular around the world. At what point have we fully depleted the replacement harvest?
I hope not too soon. Not before I learn to properly sautee them in a skillet.
King crab is number one. Snow crab is very good. Both are better than lobster. For me at least.
I guess no more snow crab next year. I am sure there is plenty of frozen for the next six months or more.
Yup.
The Russian Federation (Russia) is the world’s third largest producer of wild-caught fisheries.
1 Its national waters is also one of the world’s largest, containing waters in the Arctic and North Pacific Ocean — including one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world, the Bering Sea.
2 Previous research has identified the Russian fishing sector as high-risk for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, 3 labour exploitation and modern slavery. 4
Russia has some elements of a fisheries governance system, yet it has demonstrated limited progress towards restoring fish stocks. Major gaps remain in relation to controlling the risk of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the provision of harmful subsidies. Nearly half of Russia’s assessed fish stocks are below sustainable levels of abundance and are considered overfished.
Additionally, 41 per cent of the total catch taken in Russian waters comes from stocks that are unassessed and of unknown sustainability. Russia must work to strengthen management, including actively working to recover overfished stocks and increase knowledge of unassessed stocks to advance towards SDG target 14.4.
https://www.minderoo.org/global-fishing-index/results/country-reports/rus/
Its imported from Russia.
In 2021, the United States imported 48,867 metric tons of seafood from Russia, worth $1.2 billion (€1 billion). Of that, crab accounted for a significant portion, with frozen snow crab and frozen red king crab accounting for over $900 million (€796 million).
https://www.intrafish.com/trade/calls-for-ban-on-russian-seafood-imports-grow-louder-across-us-industry/2-1-1174310
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PPP7sRlHEE&t=234s
In general much of the entire world has been overfishing too long.
However in the last few years China has indeed emerged as an outrageous leader of the practice. Truly they are a criminal organization.
Video link above is 2 years old for example.
One of our Christmas Eve staples. The box that was $225 in 202 was $450 last year. Could only imagine what it will be this year.
I have no knowledge of crab fishing nor international trade. But animal populations always go up and down without explanation. lemmings, mice, deer elk,rabbit, fox to name a few.
I am betting it was covid that took out all the crabs.
(Curse you Dr Fauci!)
Sarc off.
At least we can watch “Deadliest Catch” reruns and snack on RoboCrab imitation crab meat morsels.
Sure, but its all caught in the Bering Sea, and if the Russians over-harvest, its going to have impact on the US side.
Q: How do we know there’s really a population collapse?
Trust but verify.
sharp decline in their..............
estimated ..............population.
This week’s announcements by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
/\
Better check their numbers ,math and survey methods...
.. or computer models they used for their “ estimate”.
My guess is none of it is fact based and this is just more commie infestation of state and or fed agencies to destroy small independent business.
Jmho.
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