Tag Archives: downward trend

For the first time in over 25 years, Bristol Bay red king crab harvest halted for 2021-22

The announcement came as a surprise to many in the crab industry, even those aware of the downward trend in female red king crab since 2012, and a downward trend in Bering Sea snow crab abundance. According to a NOAA survey report the total mature male biomass of commercial crab stocks in the eastern Bering Sea in 2021 was the lowest on record and 2021 biomass estimates continued a declining trend that began in 2015. The decline in crab biomass and abundance was most notable for snow crab, with abundance estimates for mature male and female snow crab down 55% and 70% respectively, the report said.,, In April, PEER filed a complaint on behalf of former NOAA Fisheries biologist Braxton Dew, charging the federal fisheries agency with paving the way for collapse,,, NOAA Fisheries had attributed the sudden loss of millions of crabs to “a drastic increase in natural mortality” and “massive die-offs,” claims for which no evidence has materialized, >click to read< 14:24

ASMFC says Striped Bass on a downward trend – Watermen comment on proposed options

ASMFC SidebarThere are many options in front of the commercial striped bass fishery right now. The ASMFC’s striped bass management board is considering three options to reduce the striped bass fishery both coast-wide and in the Chesapeake Bay. The board is expected to make its decision at a conference in late October on whether it wants to spread out the regulations over three years or make the whole reduction in one year. Read the rest here 10:48