The NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) conducts an annual trawl survey in the eastern Bering Sea (EBS)
to determine the distribution and abundance of crab and groundfish resources. Stocks that the NMFS is
responsible for assessing are covered by the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (NPFMC 1998). Crab species of interest include
Tanner crab (Chionoecetes
bairdi), snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), two stocks of blue king crab
(Paralithodes platypus), red king crab
(Paralithodes
camtschaticus) and hair crab (Erimacrus isenbeckii). These surveys are conducted in three
legs throughout the summer with two vessels dedicated to each leg. The EBS survey is augmented every year
by the addition of special projects. The cumulative data collected during each annual survey help fisheries
managers regulate commercial crab fishing activities. An annual report is prepared from the data. Executive
summaries, charts, and full reports are available below for existing information.
Current status of the Westward Region's commercial crab and shellfish fisheries can be accessed
from Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Press Releases and from the North Pacific Management Council's BSAI Crab Plan Team SAFE Report.
Note: The Condensed Tables and Charts and Full Reports categories are PDF documents. The Full Reports in particular
may take a long time to download if you use a dial-up connection. See
our accessibility information for links to assistive
Adobe software.