The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Monday the Bering Sea Snow Crab Season would be canceled for this winter, after concerns over the species population.
After an analysis of survey of the species from the National Marine Fisheries Service and the ADF&G, both agencies decided to keep the species closed to fishing for the 2022-2023 season.
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“ADF&G appreciates and carefully considered all input from crab industry stakeholders prior to making this decision. Understanding crab fishery closures have substantial impacts on harvesters, industry, and communities, ADF&G must balance these impacts with the need for long-term conservation and sustainability of crab stocks. Management of Bering Sea snow crab must now focus on conservation and rebuilding given the condition of the stock,” the department said in a statement.
The news comes on the heals of the department announcing the Bristol Bay Red King Crab Season had been canceled.
The canceled season come as the waters in Bering Sea are warming significantly. The snow crab harvest for the 2021-2022 season was the smallest in more than 40 year, at only 5.6 million pounds.
Officials are searching for answers on how to solve the issue of declining population, with an estimated one billion snow crab disappearing in the past two year, per CBS News.
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State officials are optimistic they can find a remedy to support sustainability and conservation, but until that time the fishing seasons are on hold.
