Renewal of the amateur red king crab fishery in Russian waters of the Barents Sea: Potential benefits and costs

Abstract

The red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) was introduced into the Barents Sea in the 1960s, and the established population of this species has supported commercial Russian fishery since 2004. Licensed recreational fishing for red king crab occurred in 1999–2006. This activity was forbidden after a ban of the red king crab fishery within the 12-mile zone of Russia. In 2021, the amateur red king crab fishery was renewed at several coastal sites of the Barents Sea. An analysis of stock dynamics and fishery statistics indicates that a decline in the crab abundance indices was associated with official, illegal, and amateur fisheries in the coastal Barents Sea. Advantages of recreational crab fishing include the satisfaction of the local population, income from the sale of licenses, and increased tourism potential of the region. Disadvantages are associated with contamination of the nearshore environment, increased illegal fishing, increased mortality of nontarget crabs, and additional costs of control and monitoring.