BSAI Crab Specifications

The Council reviewed the final BSAI Crab Stock Assessment Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report and received information on the status of the ten federally managed crab stocks. Based on this report, the SSC recommends overfishing levels (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) levels for 2017/18.

The SAFE report also reports on catch accruing towards OFL and ABC levels the previous year (see table below) and provides stock status in relation to status determination criteria.  For stocks for which biomass information is available the current biomass in relation to its target managed stock size (B_MSY) is determined. EBS Tanner crab and Pribilof Island red king crab are estimated to be above B_MSY for 2017/18, while EBS snow crab, Bristol Bay red king crab, Saint Matthew blue king crab and Norton Sound red king crab have all declined since last year, and are estimated to be below B_MSY.  Pribilof Islands blue king crab stock remains overfished and estimated to be well below its minimum stock size threshold (MSST). The SSC increased the buffer for St. Matthew blue king crab from 2016/17 due to concerns with steeply declining stock biomass.

The CPT and SSC review assessments on a staggered time frame with some stocks assessed on an annual basis while others are assessed less frequently. The OFL and ABC table below also shows when each stock will next be assessed.  Stocks can be assessed more frequently on a case-by-case basis should data indicate that it is necessary. The final SAFE report and Crab Plan Team report is available on the Council’s website. Staff contact for BSAI crab stocks is Diana Stram.