For the second year in a row, crab fisheries in southwest Alaska are facing steep cuts. This year’s Bristol Bay red king crab fishery is 22 percent smaller than last year.
The season opens October 15.
There will be no fishery for St. Matthew’s blue king crab because of low abundance.
The Pribilof District red and blue king crab fisheries will also remain closed due to continued low abundance and uncertainty from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on the accuracy of red king crab estimates.