Alaska Crab Fisheries Show Signs of Recovery

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) delivered good news to the commercial fishing industry on Monday, October 6, 2025, when it was announced that it is nearly doubling the allowable harvest for the upcoming Bering Sea snow crab commercial fishing season. The increase marks a turning point for an industry that has endured devastating losses over the past several years.

ADF&G has set the catch limit at 9.3 million pounds for the season, representing a substantial increase over last year’s totals. However, the figure remains a reminder of how far the fishery has fallen from its peak. In 1991, crabbers harvested more than 320 million pounds of snow crab from these waters. Even as recently as 2020, the catch limit was set at 45 million pounds before the stock’s catastrophic collapse.

The downturn began in 2021 when more than 10 billion snow crabs vanished from the Bering Sea. The disappearance forced regulators to close the fishery for two consecutive seasons, leaving boats tied to docks and processing plants closed. Researchers attributed the collapse to warming ocean waters driven by climate change, which disrupted the delicate ecosystem these cold-water crustaceans depend on.

Recent survey data has given regulators confidence to reopen the fishery. ADF&G reports increases across all sex and size groups compared to last year’s surveys. While large males, the primary target of commercial harvest, remain at historically low levels, the overall population shows signs of recovery.

The two factors that drive cautious optimism are a return to colder ocean conditions in the Bering Sea and a notable increase in juvenile crab populations. The abundance of young crabs suggests the population may continue rebuilding in coming years, though full recovery could take a decade or longer.

For the first time in the fishery’s history, officials have set aside a dedicated portion of this season’s harvest specifically for hybrid snow-tanner crabs. These unique specimens share characteristics of both species, including distinctive eye coloration and tooth structures. Snow crab and Tanner crab are closely related species that naturally crossbreed in certain regions of the Bering Sea, though historically these hybrids existed in such small numbers they were simply counted as snow crab and considered biologically insignificant.

Recent surveys revealed what regulators called an “unprecedented” abundance of these hybrids. Approximately 20% of harvestable male crabs are now found to be hybrids, representing a dramatic increase from historical levels. The surge coincides mysteriously with the recent snow crab population collapse and delayed maturation in female snow crabs, suggesting a fundamental change in the ecosystem’s mating dynamics. To encourage their harvest and better understand their role in the ecosystem, ADF&G has designated 11% of the total snow crab quota, about one million pounds, specifically for these hybrid crabs from designated “hybrid grounds” located between 56°30’N and 58°N latitude.

ADF&G officials have also increased the Bristol Bay red king crab catch limit by approximately 16% over last year, setting a total harvest quota of 2.7 million pounds. This fishery, which commands premium prices in seafood markets worldwide, will take priority when the season opens, as it closes just after January 1st, 2026.

All three fisheries (snow crab, red king crab, and Tanner crab) are scheduled to open on October 15^th, 2025. While snow and Tanner crab seasons will extend into spring, the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery will operate on the shorter timeline noted above.

For the commercial fishing communities that depend on these harvests, the increased quotas represent more than just economic opportunity. They signal that the Bering Sea ecosystem may be stabilizing after years of climate-driven changes. However, catch limits remain far below historic averages. The coming season will be closely monitored by fishery managers, scientists, and industry stakeholders, as they assess whether this recovery can be sustained.