Alaskan king crab fishing
Alaskan king crab fishing is carried out during the fall in the waters off the coast of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.
[1] Several theories for the precipitous drop in the crab population have been proposed, including overfishing, warmer waters, and increased fish predation.
A fourth variety, the scarlet king crab (Lithodes couesi), is too small and rare to be commercially viable, though its meat is considered sweet and tasty.
[5] Specific size requirements must be met; only certain types of king crab are legal at different times of the year and only males can be kept.
Under the old derby style, a large number of crews competed with each other to catch crab during a restrictive time window.
[8] Commercial fishing boats are between 12 and 75 m (39 and 246 ft) in length, are equipped with hydraulic systems to lift the catch, and are able to withstand the freezing weather of the Bering Sea.
[2] Each fishing boat sets its own sailing schedule during the crabbing season, often staying out for days or weeks at a time.
[6] Fish, usually herring or codfish, are placed inside as bait, and then the pot is sunk to the sea floor where the king crabs reside.
[6] Even the rocking of the boat can cause damage to the crabs, so boards are inserted in the holds to prevent excessive side-to-side movement.
If the crew fails to remove the dead crabs, they can poison the entire tank and ruin the catch[citation needed].
[13] Several theories for the precipitous drop in the crab population have been proposed, including overfishing, warmer waters, and increased fish predation.
[2] King crabs caught outside the United States are currently on the list of seafood that sustainability-minded consumers should avoid; the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program lists king crab caught in the United States as a "good alternative".
The show highlights interpersonal relationships and the dangers of king crab fishing, including freezing temperatures, turbulent seas, and raising full pots that can weigh well over a ton.
