Gabriel Prout is happy with his small catch of king crab, but the fishing port in Kodiak, Alaska is bracing for financial trouble because of the disappearance of another type of crustacean: the lucrative snow crab season has been canceled for the second year in a row.
“It’s clear that we’re still trying to figure out how to stay in business,” he told CBS News.
People who fish for Alaskan crab were confused when the season was called off last year. There is now a feeling of panic in the state’s fisheries, which provide 60% of the country’s seafood.
“It’s still hard to understand how we could go from having a healthy population in the Bering Sea to having to close two ports in a row,” Prout said.
And while he is barely holding on, others — like Joshua Songstad — have lost almost everything.
That was it, Songstad said. “Now I’m stuck at home with no money and not much to do.”
The crisis started in early 2022, when biologists found that an estimated billion crabs had died, which is 90% of the population.
Ben Daly, a research coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said, “the first thing we thought was, Is this real? You know, we looked at it and it was almost a flat line.”
“The environment is changing quickly,” Daly told CBS News when the snow crab season was canceled for the first time ever last year. “The Bering Sea has been warm for a few years now, and we’re seeing a response from a species that lives in cold places, so it’s clear that the two are linked.” It is a canary in a coal mine for other species that need cold water. “.
A new study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that a marine heat wave caused by climate change ruined the snow crabs’ food supply and killed them.
Biologists are hopeful that this second round of suspensions will give the remaining snow crabs time to grow back in size.
But because the climate threat is getting worse, people are worried that the snow crabs and the businesses that depend on them will continue to go away.
“Im a fourth-generation fisherman,” Songstad said. There won’t be any of us left if we keep going the way we are. I’d like to say that this will be here for my kids, but the truth is that we’re a dying breed. “.
Snow crab is a delicious crustacean that has become a popular menu item at many seafood restaurants However, snow crab is only available during certain times of the year when it is in season So when exactly is snow crab season? Let’s take a closer look at when and why this tasty crab variety becomes available.
An Overview of Snow Crab
Snow crab refers to a species known as Chionoecetes opilio that lives in cold ocean waters off the coast of Alaska, Canada, and even Norway and Russia. They are named for their mostly white-colored shells, appendages, and claws. Snow crab look similar to king crab but are a bit smaller, growing to about 4-5 inches across.
Snow crab live on the seafloor, particularly favoring muddy or sandy areas between 90 to 650 feet deep. They are a cold water species, with adult snow crabs preferring water temperatures around 39-43°F. Snow crab are omnivores, feeding on algae, worms, clams, mussels, and even the occasional fish
The meat from snow crab legs is considered a delicacy It has a sweet, delicate flavor and flaky texture. Snow crab is often served in seafood restaurants as part of a shellfish tower, steamed and chilled as a standalone appetizer, tossed into pasta dishes, or incorporated into various recipes.
When Does Snow Crab Season Occur?
So when can you enjoy fresh snow crab? Here is an overview of snow crab season timing:
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Alaska: The Alaska snow crab season typically takes place between mid-October and mid-January. The season usually lasts around 90 days.
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Canada: Canadian snow crab season happens at similar times, spanning October to December or January for around 3 months.
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Norway: Norway’s snow crab fishery occurs between January and April.
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Russia: Russia allows snow crab harvesting from November through May.
The Alaska snow crab fishery is the largest and accounts for most of the snow crab brought to the US market. The exact timing of the season varies slightly year to year based on crunching population data and determining quota limits. But mid-October through January is when you’ll typically see fresh snow crab shows up in stores and on menus.
Why is Snow Crab Season Limited?
You may be wondering, if snow crab is so tasty, why can’t you enjoy it year round? The short answer is that having a designated snow crab season helps maintain healthy population levels.
Here are some of the reasons snow crab harvesting is limited to just a few months annually:
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Reproduction: Snow crabs mate and spawn their eggs during summer months. Limiting the harvest season protects females pre- and post-spawning.
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Molting: Snow crabs shed their shells to grow larger. This molting process leaves them vulnerable, so avoiding harvest times when molting is most frequent reduces impact.
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Monitoring populations: Seasonal harvest allows scientists to better estimate population sizes and set appropriate catch quotas.
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Meat quality: Snow crab meat is firmer and fuller when crabs have had ample summer feeding time to build up fat reserves. The meat quality declines moving into spring.
By carefully controlling the snow crab fishing season, populations can be maintained at healthy levels rather than overfished into decline or even collapse.
Canceled Seasons in the Bering Sea
Unfortunately, even with restricted seasonal harvests, snow crab numbers have still taken concerning declines recently.
In fact, for the 2021-2022 season, snow crab harvests in the Bering Sea were canceled entirely. This was due to a shocking 90% estimated population drop that left crab counts too low to open for sustainable fishing. It was the first ever cancellation of the Bering Sea snow crab season.
The 2022-2023 season has now also just been canceled, marking a second year without Bering Sea snow crab. The back-to-back canceled seasons are creating economic hardship for many Alaska fishing towns.
Scientists cite warming ocean temperatures as the likely culprit in the plummeting snow crab numbers. As cold water species, snow crabs thrive best within a specific thermal range. The Bering Sea has warmed several degrees Fahrenheit in recent years, pushing beyond the ideal range for snow crabs. Conservation efforts aim to allow the struggling Bering Sea snow crab populations time to rebound.
Enjoying Snow Crab Responsibly
For seafood lovers, the Alaska snow crab fishery closures mean less availability and likely higher prices for snow crab for the next couple years. But we can enjoy snow crab responsibly by:
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Looking for snow crab from other regulated, sustainable harvest regions like Canada.
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Only purchasing fresh snow crab during official harvest seasons to support responsible fisheries.
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Exploring other tasty crab varieties like king, Dungeness, and stone crab that inhabit warmer waters.
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Using our purchasing power to support restaurants that source crab and seafood sustainably.
By being informed consumers and only buying snow crab in season from reputable harvest areas, we can help ensure delicious snow crab remains available for generations to come. The snow crab season provides a special annual window to enjoy this sublime seafood in a sustainable way.
ClimateWatch: Climate Change News & Features
Jonathan Vigliotti is a CBS News correspondent based in Los Angeles. He previously served as a foreign correspondent for the networks London bureau.
Alaska’s snow crab season canceled for second year in a row
What happened to Alaska’s snow crab season?
The Bering Sea snow crab season was canceled this year after billions of crabs disappeared, devastating Alaska’s commercial fishing industry and the livelihoods of those who depend on it. From Alaska Public Media and KMXT in Kodiak, Kirsten Dobroth reports, fishermen and researchers are working to figure out what happened.
Will snow crab season be canceled this year?
The number of crabs has now fallen below the threshold for opening a fishery, the fish and game department said in a statement, adding that the Bering Sea snow crab season, which typically opens on Oct. 15, would be canceled this year. Crabbers and industry officials were upset with the state’s decision to cancel the season.
When does snow crab season start?
The snow crab season differs based on the area and local laws that guarantee their population is managed carefully. Generally, it begins in late autumn and runs until early spring when crabs are more plentiful during colder months. For example:
Why was the Bering Sea snow crab season canceled?
Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. The Bering Sea snow crab season was canceled this year after billions of crabs disappeared, devastating Alaska’s commercial fishing industry and the livelihoods of those who depend on it.