Juneau, AK – Today the State of Alaska officially opens the 2012/2013 harvest season for Bristol Bay red king crab, St. Matthew Island blue king crab, and Bering Sea snow crab, three legendary and sought-after varieties of seafood. Together, the Bering Sea snow crab and Bristol Bay red king crab fisheries typically account for over 75 percent of Alaska’s crab harvest (in ex-vessel value terms).
The 2012/2013 Total Allowable Catches (TACs), which are established yearly for each species to maintain maximum sustained yield and continued abundance, reflect the state’s commitment to responsible fisheries management and the willingness of Alaska’s managers to adjust their catch to align with the best scientific data available.
- The 2012/2013 TAC for Bristol Bay red king crab is set at over 7.8 million pounds, almost identical to the 2011/2012 season.
- The 2012/2013 TAC for St. Matthew Island blue king crab is set at over 1.6 million pounds, representing a 31% decrease from the 2011/2012 season.
- The 2012/2013 TAC for Bering Sea snow (opilio) crab is set at over 66 million pounds, representing a 25% decrease from the 2011/2012 season.
Smaller Alaska crab fisheries include Aleutian Island golden king crab, which opened on August 15th with a TAC of 6.29 million pounds, and Norton Sound red king crab, which ran from June 29th to September 8th and had a total harvest of 475,990 pounds.
Alaska crab stocks are jointly managed by state and federal organizations: the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) oversees conservation and management, while the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) superintends allocation and policy.
Luxurious Alaska king crab is unmatched in size and is celebrated for its sweet flavor and rich, tender texture. Alaska snow crab is prized for its delicately sweet flavor, and tender, snow-white meat. For more information on wild, sustainable Alaska crab, including recipes and nutritional facts, please visit http://www.wildalaskaflavor.com.
About Alaska Seafood
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is a partnership of the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry. ASMI works to promote the benefits of wild and sustainable Alaska seafood and offer seafood industry education.
For more than 50 years, Alaska has been dedicated to sustainable seafood. It’s so essential to our way of life that our constitution mandates that fish are “utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle.” The seafood industry is Alaska’s largest private sector employer, and as a result, Alaskans understand the need to protect the fisheries and surrounding habitats for future generations. We’re proud of our leadership in sustainable management, which has led to an ever-replenishing supply of wild seafood for markets around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.alaskaseafood.org.
Source: Alaska Seafood