Crab abundance in West Kamchatka dwindling

The abundance of the crab stocks in the West Kamchatka shelf has been declining, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to Vostok-Media.

More specifically, according to the surveys made by the research vessel Professor Kizevetter the abundance of fishable red king crab males has dropped by 39%, while undersized red king crabs have decreased by 54% and the abundance of female red king crabs has declined by 84%. At the same time, for the first time from 2005 in the waters of Khairyuzovo and Prichy Island the scientists have discovered increase of abundance of red king crab males. The abundance fall is attributed to redistribution of the crab stocks within the shelf and partly to the damage made by poachers.