Profile updated on 14 December 2021

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

IDENTIFICATION

SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)

Paralithodes platypus

SPECIES NAME(s)

Blue king crab, Синий краб

Blue king crab Paralithodes platypus are found in the North Pacific waters of Alaska and Russia. Stoutamore (2014) concluded that some genetic divergence may occur between the Russian and Alaskan populations, although stock structure is poorly understood (Stoutamore 2014). Within Russian waters, distinctions for management purposes are made among Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and Sea of Japan populations. The species' range in Russian waters stretches from Chukotka in the north down to Primoriya in the south (Koblikov et al. 2010); southward of that, there is a fishery in Hokkaido, Japan, as well. Among blue king crab in Russia, the population residing in the northeastern Sea of Okhotsk region that abuts up to Shelikhov Bay (i.e., in an area that includes the Western Kamchatka fishing zone covered in this profile) is known to be the most productive (Shaginyan 2019).


ANALYSIS

Strengths
  • Biomass and fishing mortality reference points were developed in 2015 for use in managing this fishery.

SCORES

Management Quality:

Management Strategy:

10.0

Managers Compliance:

0.4

Fishers Compliance:

10.0