Crabbers had caught most of their Bristol Bay red king crab quota as of last Friday, harvesting 85 percent of the nearly 10 million pound quota, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Unalaska.
The fishery, which opened Oct. 15, is moving at a normal pace, according to ADF&G shellfish biologist Heather Fitch.
A total of 62 boats participated, landing big crustaceans with an average weight this year of 6.6 pounds, a good size, although down a little from last year's exceptionally high 6.9 pound average, Fitch said. The annual average weight ranges from around 6.1 to 6.9 pounds, she said.
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