Abstract
Abstract The snow crab Chionoecetes opilioFabricius, 1788 is a newly established species in the Barents Sea. Since the first individuals were recorded in 1996, the population has increased and a fishery was initiated in 2012. Mature female snow crab caught in the central Barents Sea were investigated with regards to fecundity. Ovigerous females (N = 185) ranged from 48 to 100 mm carapace width (CW). Fecundity was 15,000–184,000 eggs per female with 100% clutch fullness, and was positively related to body size (fecundity = 0.233 * CW2.944) consistent with relationships described for other snow crab populations. Eight females had less than 100% clutch fullness, two of which had only 10% clutch fullness along with an old shell, indicating senescence. Dry egg weight was on average 0.065 mg and was hardly affected by CW. Females across all sizes invest similarly in individual eggs, and potential size-dependent differences in fitness are more related to the number of eggs produced than to the investment into individual eggs. We conclude that the fecundity-at-size of females is overall comparable to that of other populations, although the presence of large females results in high maximum individual fecundity estimates.
Highlights
A female snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio Fabricius 1788) was found on the southern slope of Goose Bank in the southeastern Barents Sea in May 1996 (Kuzmin et al, 1999)
The hypothesis of introduction from the northwestern Atlantic via ballast water was proposed by Kuzmin et al (1999) but genetic analysis shows a closer relationship with the Pacific populations, indicating natural expansion of the species distribution (Dahle et al, 2014; Dahle et al, unpublished data)
This study provides the first fecundity analysis of female snow crab in the Barents Sea since the species was first observed in the sea in May 1996 (Kuzmin et al, 1999)
Summary
A female snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio Fabricius 1788) was found on the southern slope of Goose Bank in the southeastern Barents Sea in May 1996 (Kuzmin et al, 1999). This was the first record of snow crab in the Barents Sea, drawing attention to the emerging population that since has grown to inhabit large areas of the Barents Sea. Additional observations of 15 snow crab individuals were made by the end of 1999, and during the last decades a selfreproducing population has established (Alvsvåg et al, 2009). As the fishery management of this stock is under development the need for knowledge on the biology and production potential of the population is needed to support management decisions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
