2002 Bering Sea Crab Survey Report: Executive Summary
Executive Summary:
This document summarizes data presented in the Report to Industry on the 2002 Eastern Bering Sea Trawl
Survey. Numbers presented are trawl survey indices of population level and do not necessarily represent
absolute abundance. For further information, contact Dr. Louis J. Rugolo
(phone: 907.481.1715) or the Kodiak Laboratory Director (phone: 907.481.1711), NMFS, 301 Research Court,
Kodiak, AK 99615. Guideline Harvest Levels (GHL) are for the combined general and CDQ fisheries. This
draft reflects data analysis and management decision-making through December 11, 2002.
Red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) [2002
red king
distribution chart]
Bristol Bay:
Legal males: 9.5 million crabs; 85% increase.
Pre-recruits: 10.1 million crabs; 138% increase.
Large Females: 19.0 million crabs; 11% decrease.
Status: Abundance of mature males has essentially doubled relative to last year's estimate. Mature
females show little change. Relatively high numbers of sub-legal crab indicate good recruitment for
future fisheries. All newshell females carried new eggs. Reproductive population estimates well
above the minimum stock size threshold (MSST); stock not considered to be in the overfished level
of abundance.
GHL: 9.3 million pounds (4,218 metric tons, t). Fishery opened October 15, 2002.
Pribilof Islands District:
Legal males: 1.8 million crabs; no change.
Pre-recruits: 0.02 million crabs; 99% decrease.
Large Females: 0.44 million crabs; 89% decrease.
Status: Crabs were highly concentrated, and index has very low precision. Females are poorly estimated.
Reproductive population estimates are above the MSST, stock not considered to be in the overfished
level of abundance. No recruitment is apparent. Red king crabs in the Pribilof Islands are
usually
harvested along with blue king crabs and are currently the dominant species. Concern that unacceptable
levels of blue king crab incidental catch could occur in a red King crab fishery.
GHL: Fishery not opened in 2002.
Blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus) [2002
blue king
distribution chart]
Pribilof Islands District:
Legal males: 0.2 million crabs; 50% decrease.
Pre-recruits: 0.02million crabs; 84% decrease.
Large Females: 1.2million crabs; 23% decrease.
Status: Population is low and trends are not easily detectable. Little or no recruitment is apparent.
Reproductive population estimate fell below the MSST in 2002 and the stock is now considered to be in the
overfished level of abundance.
GHL: Fishery not opened in 2002.
Northern (St. Matthew Island) District:
Legal males: 0.6 million crabs; 39% decrease.
Pre-recruits: 0.2 million crabs; 62% decrease.
Large Females: Not well estimated.
Status: Population has declined steeply since 1998. Indices are affected by the portion of the stock
occupying untrawlable grounds. Reproductive population estimate continues to be below the MSST in 2002
and the stock is considered to be in the overfished level of abundance.
GHL: Fishery not opened in 2002.
Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) [2002 Tanner crab distribution
chart]
Eastern District:
Legal males: 6.9 million crabs; 10% increase.
Pre-recruits: 15.1 million crabs; 13% decrease.
Large Females: 11.3 million crabs; 14% decrease.
Status: Population decreasing slightly due to continued low recruitment. Reproductive population
estimate continues to be below the MSST in 2002 and the stock is considered to be in the overfished
level of abundance.
GHL: Fishery not opened in 2002.
Snow crab (C. opilio) [2002
snow crab distribution
chart]
All districts combined:
Large males: 76.1 million crabs; 2% decrease.
Pre-recruits: 248.0 million crabs; 12% decrease.
Large Females: 500.7 million crabs; 67% decrease.
Status: Apparent recruitment that led to increased biomass in each of the past two years has dissipated.
Precipitous decrease in large female abundance may reflect the uncertainty of recent estimates as
well since estimates have been dominated by a small number of tows. Lack of recruitment of female
reproductive stock is evidenced by the increasing prevalence of old shelled crab. Small males and
females also declining. Reproductive population estimate that slightly exceeded MSST in 2001 is below
the MSST in 2002 and the stock is considered to be in the overfished level of abundance but is above 50%
MSST. Under the current rebuilding plan and harvest strategy the fishery would be closed if the stock fell
below 50% MSST.
GHL: 25.61 million pounds (11,617 t). Fishery is currently scheduled to open January 15, 2003.
Hair crab (Erimacrus isenbeckii) [2002
hair crab distribution
chart]
All districts combined:
Total males: 2.1 million crabs; 17% increase.
Large Females: Not well estimated.
Status: Population has been declining for several years. Recruitment trends are unclear due to poor
representation of small crabs in survey tows.
GHL: Fishery closed in 2002-2003 season.
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