Alaskan king crab

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Alaskan king crab species include red king crab, blue king crab, golden king crab and scarlet king crab. The red king crab is most prized for its flesh. The scarlet king crab is also said to be very sweet and delicious, but they are too small and rare to be commercially viable. Crab harvesters must abide by strict regulatory rules concerning fishing.

The Alaskan king crab fishing season is rather short and takes place during the winter. Only certain types of crabs can be caught during certain times of the year. Only male crabs can be kept and they must meet size requirements. There are also maximum quotas in place. Anyone who breaks the rules will face very stiff fines and possibly worse.

October and January are the most popular months for crabbing. During the winter of 2005-2006 14 million pounds of Alaskan king crab was caught in four days by 250 boats. Commercial boats are anywhere between 50 and 250 feet in length. They feature complex hydraulic systems to lift pots of crab onto the deck. Captains set their own schedules during the season and may stay at sea for several weeks at a time.

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