Alaska Red King Crab Genetic Diversity Doubles

Govind Tekale

The red king crab fishery was Alaska's leading shellfish fishery that collapsed in the 1980s; the Gulf of Alaska fishery has still closed since 1983.

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A new study suggests the genetic traits that give crabs flexibility in their responses to shifting ocean conditions.

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The crabs' natural safety net protects them from diseases and shifting ocean chemistry.

Photo Source:- Kindel Media (Pexels)

There are six types of red king crab in Alaskan waters, twice as many as were previously known.

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Reducing the genetic diversity of the Gulf of Alaska declines was not a major threat because it still has quite healthy genetics and should be recovered with good management.

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Fishery management considers adopting different approaches within each region to preserve unique traits in distinct populations.

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Local parent crabs are the major choice in a hatchery's genetic program; raising young crabs is aimed at augmenting populations of wild populations.

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Conservation of the genetic population keeps the red king crab and its harvesting communities robust.

Photo Source:- David Csepp (CC BY 4.0)