Monitoring the biological status of commercial crab species in the western Bering Sea in spring 2025

Abstract

The purpose of the expedition research is to assess the biological status of commercial species crab in the western part of the Bering Sea.

Materials and methods. The data was collected from the catch of traps during the monitoring of the crab fishery on 29.04.-19.06.2025 at depths of 50-379 m. The following species were studied: blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus), snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and tanner crab (C. bairdi), as well as other species found in by-catch. The formation of a database with parameters of the biological state of crabs and its processing were carried out according to standard methods adopted in VNIRO.

Results. Biostatistical information on functional groups is given for three mass crabs. In the western part of the Bering Sea, the biological parameters of P. platypus and C. bairdi correspond to the spring period, and their older size and age groups dominated the catches. Due to the paucity of data, the biological parameters of C. opilio in the study areas are insufficient for an adequate assessment. The red king crab (P. camtschaticus) has become common in the West Bering Sea zone, and dense aggregations of this species are present in the Karaginsk subzone. Data on the filling of limbs with muscle fibers and the total protein content in crab hemolymph between molts were collected for all species.

Practical significance. The crab fishery monitoring results will be taken into account in the preparation of forecast materials to establish the total allowable catches of P. platypus, C. bairdi and C. opilio in the West Bering Sea zone and in the Karaginsk subzone.