US: Bristol Bay king crab season is off to a good start in Alaska

“The crab that’s been landed so far has been high quality — new shell, good size, good fill,” Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) biologist Ethan Nichols told Dutch Harbor Public Radio. About 29 percent of the total allowable catch (TAC) for the Bristol Bay king crab fishery had been caught as of Oct. 23, a little more than a week into the season, according to Nichols. So far, captain reports and observer catch reports show signs of a productive fishery in U.S. waters, he said. About 14 vessels have landed about 680,000 pounds of king crab. The average weight is 6.84 pounds, and the catch limit is 35 males per pot. Both of those numbers are slightly higher than last year, KUCB reported. Fisheries managers set a TAC for king crab at 4.62 million pounds, Undercurrent News reported. The snow crab season also opened after two closures due to collapsed market stocks. Dutch Harbor Fisheries Advisor Frank Kelty said recent surveys show king crab stocks are improving, but cautioned ...