Chionoecetes Research Articles

Trophic Position Stability of Benthic Organisms in a Changing Food Web of an Arctic Fjord Under the Pressure of an Invasive Predatory Snow Crab, Chionoecetes opilio

The introduction of a large predatory snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, into the Kara Sea is a unique situation where the impact of an invasive species affecting an otherwise undisturbed ecosystem can be observed unhindered by other ecosystem stressors. Trophic interactions are one of the principal relationships between animals and can help assess an ecosystem’s stability. The trophic positions and sources of organic material for the most common benthic species of Blagopoluchiya Bay sampled at different stages of the invasion were calculated using stable isotope analysis. The most pronounced changes in the trophic web occurred amongst the megabenthic species, where previously most abundant deposit-feeding ophiuroids have disappeared. However, the benthic species’ trophic position and primary production source preference did not change. A sea star, Urasterias lincki, remained the highest carnivore in the bay, and the invasive crab remained at a lower trophic level, showing higher omnivory in its diet. Any changes in the consumers’ prey items were within the same trophic level. Overall, active predators became one of the most abundant feeding mode groups. The average weighted trophic position of all megabenthic species increased to the third trophic level, where mostly secondary consumers remained.

The Dispute over the Geographical Application of the Svalbard Treaty: Into a New Phase, An Essay in Honor of Ted L. McDorman

Under the 1920 Treaty concerning the archipelago of Spitsbergen (Svalbard Treaty), the contracting parties recognize the full and absolute sovereignty of Norway over the archipelago. The sovereignty is to be exercised subject to the stipulations of the Treaty, which include equal rights of the contracting parties to fish and hunt on the territory of Spitsbergen and its territorial waters. Consistent with the developments of the law of the sea, Norway has claimed sovereign rights over the continental shelf and established 200 nautical miles (NM) zones off its coast, including Svalbard. Norway established a 200 NM Fisheries Protection Zone off the coast of Svalbard. Several contracting parties claim that the equal rights under the Svalbard Treaty are applicable in the maritime zones claimed or established after 1920. This is disputed by Norway by referring to the wording of the Treaty, which stipulates that it is applicable within the 12-NM territorial waters. Owners and captains of vessels flagged in other contracting parties have protested and argued that the arrest and prosecution for illegal fishing in the 200-NM zone off Svalbard violated their equal rights of fishing. The Court had not addressed the question of the applicability of the Treaty provisions until 2023. In a civil case before the Supreme Court, a Latvian shipowning company argued that the snow crab regulations on the continental shelf in the Barents Sea were void as they violated the equal rights of contracting parties under the Svalbard Treaty to fish on the continental shelf. The Supreme Court concluded that the treaty provisions were not applicable beyond the 12-NM territorial sea of the archipelago. An attempt by the same company at international litigation through investment arbitration was also unsuccessful. As the dispute issue is settled within the Norwegian legal system, the dispute enters into a new phase.

Molecular Evaluation of the Mating Dynamics of Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in the Eastern Bering Sea

ABSTRACTSnow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) supports a valuable crab fishery that harvests large males. To better understand the potential impact of the presence of snow‐Tanner hybrids (C. opilio × C. bairdi) on snow crab mating dynamics, the maternal lineage of hybrids was evaluated using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Contrary to results from a previous study that indicated hybrids result only from crosses between Tanner crab (C. bairdi) males and snow crab females, results from this study showed hybrids result from bidirectional parental crosses. SNP and microsatellite markers were used to evaluate the species and number of males detected as mates in female sperm reserves acquired during mating and as sires among embryos in brooded clutches. The incidence of interspecies mating between female snow crab and Tanner crab or hybrid males was low (2%), suggesting interspecies mating is not currently a pressing fishery management concern. Most females had stored sperm from either a single mate (59%) or two mates (32%), which reflects fewer mates than observed for other snow crab populations. Few females were observed with either no stored sperm (5%) or sperm from three to four mates (4%). Single (82%) or dual (18%) paternity was found among embryos in brooded clutches. Sperm from some mates appeared to be fully utilized for fertilization of the brooded clutch for 35% of females. In contrast to findings for other snow crab populations, no significant differences were detected in the numbers of mates or sires between primiparous and multiparous females. The low extent of polyandry observed may suggest that female snow crab in the EBS have limited mating opportunities, potentially leading to insufficient sperm reserves to fertilize subsequent clutches without remating.

Changes in the Diet of an Invasive Predatory Crab, Chionoecetes opilio, in the Degrading Benthic Community of an Arctic Fjord.

The introduction of a new species can lead to substantial changes in a new ecosystem. Local and introduced species' survival depends on their ability to adapt to the new environment. Studying such adaptations is often hindered by multiple factors affecting the ecosystem. The introduction of a large predatory snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio, into the Kara Sea, is a unique invasive species affecting an otherwise undisturbed ecosystem. The crab has caused drastic changes in the macro- and megabenthic taxonomic structure, abundance, and biomass of the most common species in an Arctic fjord, Blagopoluchiya Bay. Stomach content and stable isotope analysis were applied to study crabs' feeding habits. As the abundance of the most common prey items diminished, the crabs switched to other less accessible food. Prior to substantial changes in benthic communities, the diet of the snow crabs was similar to that of other invaded and native areas, where animal food predominates. However, with the degradation of the ecosystem, detritus contribution has substantially increased. The changes in prey items did not change the crab's trophic status, and they continued to feed within the same trophic niche. In the depleted benthic communities of Blagopoluchiya Bay, the snow crab is forced to use all available food sources.

The Origin of the Chionoecetes Opilio Snow Crab Larvae in the Kara Sea

Most likely, the non-indigenous snow crab opilio, Chionoecetes opilio, entered the Kara Sea from the Barents Sea, both due to the migration of adults and with currents at the larval stage. At the moment, all bottom stages, including mature individuals and a large number of pelagic larvae are present in the Kara Sea. However, the origin of the larvae has not yet been clarified. The larvae that hatched in the Kara Sea should be at an earlier stage of development compared to the Barents Sea larvae that got here due, to later development of phytoplankton and, accordingly, later hatching. The larvae of the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio and the spider crab H. araneus were collected in the central and southwestern parts of the Kara Sea in July — early August 2019 by the Bongo zooplankton net 60 cm in diameter. It was established that the larvae were unevenly distributed across the Kara Sea. The main concentrations were found on the border with the Barents Sea in the St. Anna Trough (up to 860 ind./m2), and relatively high concentrations of larvae were noted in the southwestern part, where their abundance at the stations varied from 18 to 302 ind./m2. In the zone of the Ob-Yenisei plume, crab larvae were absent or their abundance was minimal. Using molecular genetic methods, the species identity of 361 larvae (344 C. opilio and 17 H. araneus) was reliably determined, and measurements of a number of morphological structures were made for 401 larvae. Significant differences in size at the zoea stage II between C. opilio and H. araneus were established. In most of the Kara Sea in July 2019, in zooplankton samples, crab larvae were represented by zoea I C. opilio with rare specimens of zoea I H. araneus of the Kara Sea origin. Only in the southwestern part, on the border with the Barents Sea, the presence of zoea II C. opilio and H. araneus was observed in samples with an increase in the proportion of the latter species in catches, which probably originate from the Barents Sea.

Differences in Megabenthos Communities in the Eastern and Western Parts of the Kara Sea Based on Video Observations

The first quantitative video survey of the benthic megafauna was carried out on a transect in the eastern part of the Kara Sea from the slope of the Voronin Trough to the upper shelf in the depth range from 1680 to 70 metres. The data were obtained using the TU-V “Videomodule” during the 89th cruise of the R/V “Akademik Mstislav Keldysh” in autumn 2022. It was shown that the megabenthos in this area differs significantly from that of the western part of the sea and Blagopoluchiya Bay (Novaya Zemlya). In the eastern part of the Kara Sea, echinoderms dominated, among which ophiuroids were in the first place, whereas in the western part of the sea and in the Blagopoluchiya Bay, the key component of the megafauna was the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio. Single adults of Ch. opilio were recorded for the first time at almost all stations in the eastern part of the sea, but, in contrast to the western area, the snow crab has not yet become dominant here and has not influenced the benthic communities.

Fostering fisheries futures: the promise of localized stewardship education in Nunatsiavut

Nunatsiavut is a self-governing Inuit territory in northern coastal Labrador, where cultural knowledge and social values are incorporated into co-managed subsistence and commercial fisheries. Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), known as Putjotik in Inuttitut (the Nunatsiavut dialect of Inuktitut), is a co-managed fishery through the Torngat Joint Fisheries Board (TJFB) and plays a crucial role in sustaining the community of Makkovik. Arctic Char (IKaluk) is also harvested in co-managed subsistence and commercial fisheries, and is a staple in local economies and culture. In 2022, the TJFB partnered with Inuit educators to foster youth stewardship in a project called Paigitsiaguk. The Paigitsiaguk project bridges Inuit and scientific knowledge to nurture cultural values and environmental stewardship through providing place and land-based resources to educators. The project team created a comprehensive database of curriculum outcomes required by the Newfoundland and Labrador school system, and then designed culturally relevant learning activities that presented Inuit knowledge with science and social studies for students in Nunatsiavut. These resources include learning activities that are organized into education kits: one of which is centered on Putjotik and another on IKaluk. The Putjotik kit has 23 activities tailored to meet grade-specific learning outcomes, while the IKaluk kit provides 12 place-based learning activities appropriate for multiple grade levels. By providing localized and culturally relevant education resources to teachers that revolve around stewarding local fish species and their ecosystems, youth are connecting to their communities and to the coastal environment. Educational resources and learning activities reflect Inuit and scientific knowledge systems, and position teachers as facilitators to encourage students to learn from the land and Elders, knowledge holders, fishers, scientists, and managers. This paper reflects the promising futures that this work can contribute to; from facilitating intergenerational knowledge transmission from knowledge holders to youth, to encouraging self-determined stewardship activities that encourage care for the ocean and its fisheries.

Development of a stock-specific management procedure for snow crab fishery in the Sea of Japan using conditioned surplus production models in a data-moderate situation

A management procedure (MP) automatically calculates an acceptable biological catch from input data, and its performance is quantitatively evaluated by closed-loop simulations of population dynamics with their uncertainties (operating models). In snow crab in the Sea of Japan, an MP based on survey biomass estimates was adopted by stakeholders, rather than a generic MP recommended for data-moderate Japanese stocks. This was done without quantifying its performance owing to data and resource limitations. This study evaluated the performance of the existing MPs and modified the generic MP through closed-loop simulations with state-space surplus production models (SSPMs) conditioned with actual data. The survey-based MP generally worked well to achieve sustainable catch and biomass but tended to be sensitive to the bias in biomass estimates. The modified MP can be more robust to the bias than the survey-based MP with higher catches than the generic MP. This study demonstrates that, although continuing efforts of collecting composition data are inevitable, SSPM could be used as the conditioned operating models even in data-limited situations to sufficiently represent the stock status and its uncertainty.

Upcycling Shellfish Waste: Distribution of Amino Acids, Minerals, and Carotenoids in Body Parts of North Atlantic Crab and Shrimp.

The snow/pink crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) are widely distributed in the North Atlantic Ocean. During processing/consumption, about 80% of the harvest is discarded as processing waste, which is a rich source of protein, chitin, minerals, and carotenoids. This study, for the first time, investigated the proximate composition and individual amino acids, minerals, and carotenoids from different body parts (carapace, shoulder, claw, tip, and leg) of snow crabs and shrimp shells. Shrimp proteins were found to be abundant and well-balanced in their amino acid composition. Compared to shrimp shells, a lower content of amino acids was found in the snow crab, depending on the part of the shell used. Moreover, crab shells, mainly crab claws, contained a higher (p < 0.05) level of chitin compared to shrimp shells. Seven micro-elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Ba, and Ce) and six macro-elements (Ca, Na, K, Mg, P, and Sr) were identified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Among them, calcium and iron were higher in crab carapaces (p < 0.05), followed by shrimp shells and other crab shell segments. Additionally, shrimp and crab carapaces contained a significant level of carotenoids, and these were mainly composed of astaxanthin and its mono- and diesters, along with zeaxanthin, astacene, canthaxanthin, and lutein. Thus, this investigation provides detailed information to allow upcycling of shellfish waste and addresses the knowledge gap concerning the availability of various nutrients in different crab sections and shrimp shells.

Human-induced borealization leads to the collapse of Bering Sea snow crab

Human-induced borealization leads to the collapse of Bering Sea snow crab

Complete genome of the new bacilliform virus that causes Milky Hemolymph Syndrome in Chionoecetes bairdi (Rathbun, 1924)

The genome of a new member of the Nimaviridae family has been sequenced. The Chionoecetes bairdi bacilliform virus (CbBV) causes Milky Hemolymph Syndrome (MHS) in Chionoecetes bairdi populations of the Pacific coast of Kamchatka. The CbBV genome is represented by double-stranded DNA with a length of 245,567 nucleotides containing 120 ORFs. Of these, 85 proteins had significant matches in the NCBI database, and 57 genes encoded capsid, envelope, tegument and nonstructural proteins. Comparative analysis of the genomes of CbBV and a number of representatives of the class nuclear arthropod large DNA viruses (NALDVs) made it possible to isolate 49 evolutionarily conserved orthologue core genes. Among them, 5 were multicopy genes, and 44 were single-copy genes. There were ancestral genes characteristic of all Naldaviricetes − per os infectivity complex genes, one DNA polymerase gene and one thymidylate synthase gene.Phylogenetic analysis of representatives of the Nimaviridae family revealed that the CbBV and Chionoecetes opilio bacilliform virus (CoBV) form an independent clade within the family separate from the clade containing WSSV strains. This is supported by data on the order and arrangement of genes in the genomes of nimaviruses that were identical within each clade but differed between them. In addition, a high identity of the genomes and proteomes of CbBV and CoBV (approximately 99%) was shown, and their identity with WSSV strains was no more than 33%.The data on the structure of the genome of the new virus that causes MHS in C. bairdi indicate that it belongs to the family Nimaviridae, genus Whispovirus. Thus, the CbBV infecting the commercially important species of Tanner crab in populations of the Pacific coast of Kamchatka is the second “wild” representative of replicating nimaviruses whose genome has been characterized after the CoBV that causes MHS in C. opilio in populations of the Sea of Japan. The discovery of a new member of the family that infects decapods indicates the prevalence of nimaviruses in marine ecosystems. The information obtained is important for understanding the evolution of representatives of the class of nuclear arthropod large DNA viruses. The discovery of a new nimavirus that causes MHS in Chionoecetes crabs, in contrast to the white spot syndrome (WSS) caused by WSSV strains, makes it relevant to identify two variants and possibly species within the family, namely, WSSV and Milky Hemolymph Syndrome virus (MHSV).

A regional analysis of climate change effects on global snow crab fishery

AbstractThe snow crab fishery faces increasing vulnerability to environmental factors, yet the literature on the relationship between climate change and snow crab harvest remains limited. This study estimates snow crab harvest functions using climate change indicators with unbalanced panel data of snow crab production from the eastern Bering Sea (Alaska), the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Canada), the Sea of Japan, and the Barents Sea (Norway‐Russia). The relationship between snow crab biomass, stock, and catch is analyzed and the endogeneity of stock in the harvest function is also addressed using climate change indicators as instrumental variables (IVs). The results show that the extent of Arctic sea ice is effective in addressing the endogeneity, and the random effects IV model with error components two stage least squares estimator performs the best to control heterogeneity. A 1% increase in snow crab fishing effort is associated with a 0.42% increase in snow crab harvest, and a 1% increase in snow crab stock causes a 0.98% increase in snow crab harvest. The reported estimates indicate a large stock‐harvest elasticity and provide supporting evidence to prioritize stock enhancement in snow crab fishery policy designs to maintain stocks at sustainable levels and minimize government expenditures on subsidies.Recommendations This study explores how snow crab harvests are influenced by snow crab populations and fishing efforts in the context of global warming across various global regions, including the Bering Sea, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Sea of Japan, and the Barents Sea. A 1% increase in fishing effort is associated with a 0.42% increase in harvest, while a 1% increase in snow crab population leads to a 0.98% increase in harvest, showing a high dependency on snow crab biomass. Arctic sea ice extent is identified as a crucial climate factor affecting snow crab biomass and harvests, making it a valuable variable for understanding and managing snow crab populations. The study supports the prioritization of stock enhancement policies by fishery agencies and suggests standardizing how fishing effort is measured across different regions to improve snow crab fishery management and future research.

Injuries as an Indicator of the Population Density and Fishing Intensity of Snow Crab (Chionoecetis opilio) in the Barents Sea

Injuries as an Indicator of the Population Density and Fishing Intensity of Snow Crab (Chionoecetis opilio) in the Barents Sea

Trends of ocean temperature influencing snow crab catch along the Scotian Shelf

The snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery has great economic importance for Nova Scotia, contributing $263 million to fisheries and more than one-fifth of Canadian snow crab revenues in 2021. Being a stenothermic species, snow crabs can only live within a narrow range of temperatures between −1 to 6 °C. The Scotian Shelf holds the southernmost populations of snow crab in the Atlantic and snow crab catch-per-unit-area (CPUA) in the Scotian Shelf. Trawl survey data from Ocean, because these cold-temperature requirements are a limiting factor for its distribution. This study investigates the relationship between bottom ocean temperature Fisheries and Oceans Canada from 2012 to 2021 were used. Through nonlinear modelling, CPUA (mt/km2) was regressed with respect to bottom ocean temperature along Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization divisions N-ENS, CFA 23, CFA 24, and CFA. The temperature-vs-CPUA relationship was unimodal for all studied years. The best-fit models explained a limited amount of variation, but CPUA consistently decreased to zero towards the highest recorded temperatures. Due to the ongoing global warming, bottom ocean temperatures across the Scotian Shelf will likely continue to increase, which thus might harm the Scotian Shelf snow crab fishery. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential impact of global warming on the economically significant snow crab fishery in the Scotian Shelf. The findings serve as a critical alert to the possible consequences of rising ocean temperatures, thereby contributing to our understanding and preparation for the future of marine ecosystems and industries.

Temperature acclimation and response to acute thermal stress in the adults of the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio Fabricius, 1788 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Oregoniidae)

ABSTRACT Ectothermic marine animals vary widely in their tolerance to temperature changes, and polar stenothermal species seem to have poor ability to compensate for a rise in water temperature. The sub-Arctic snow crab (Chionoecetes opilioFabricius, 1788) lives in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and northern Pacific Ocean at temperatures ranging from about −1.5 °C to 4 °C. Since the metabolic costs overtake caloric intake above 7 °C, the snow crab appears to be energetically restricted to cold water. We investigated thermal stress responses in adult male crabs exposed to a sudden temperature increase to 9.5 °C for 24 hr after four weeks of acclimation at 2.5 °C or 5.5 °C. Heart-rate loggers implanted in a limited number of crabs showed 60% increase in cardiac activity during the thermal stress. Surplus oxygen supply in all crabs was inferred by the low hemolymph lactate and unchanged glucose levels, but only the crabs acclimated at 5.5 °C were still active at the elevated temperature. Low heat shock and oxidative stress responses were suggested by the missing upregulation of the genes encoding four heat shock proteins (Hsp70a, Hsc71, Hsp90a2, Hsp60) and the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. The trend towards inverse temperature-dependent on the expression of the hsp genes may be related to increased protein damage at low temperatures, or possible trade-offs between costs and benefits of producing heat shock proteins at elevated temperature. Although adult snow crabs seem to be able to cope with short-term heat stress, the tolerance to chronic elevated temperatures should be further examined using a larger number of individuals.

Embryonic development of the red snow crab Chionoecetes japonicus (Decapoda: Oregoniidae), inhabiting the meso and bathypelagic zones of the Sea of Japan

ABSTRACT This study investigated the seasonal changes in embryonic development of the red snow crabs inhabiting the deep sea using wild and captive ovigerous females. The embryonic stages were categorised into 14 groups based on their external morphology. Females with recently spawned eggs (between stage 1 and early stage 3), those with the eggs at the midterm stage (mainly stages 7 and 8), and those with eggs just before hatching (stage 14) were observed simultaneously from January to March indicating a 2-year reproductive cycle. These findings aid in understanding and identifying the spawning years of the red snow crabs sampled from their natural habitats.

Variations in vertical distribution of developing snow crab Chionoecetes opilio and red snow crab Chionoecetes japonicus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Majoidea) larvae in experimental temperature gradients

ABSTRACT In the Sea of Japan, field studies have found snow crab and red snow crab larvae occur between the surface and depths of up to 550 m and 1100 m, respectively. In this region, snow crab larvae hatch at depths of 240–260 m and red snow crab larvae hatch at 1000–1500 m. To understand their vertical distribution during the larval period, we investigated the upward swimming speed of newly hatched larvae (first-stage zoea) and the behaviour of all larval stages (first and second zoeal and megalopal stages) in a temperature gradient under laboratory conditions. Our results showed that the larvae have the potential to reach the surface within a few days of hatching. As the larvae developed, they preferred greater depth and lower temperatures; although they temporarily rose to higher levels immediately after each moult. The zoeae and megalopae of both species did not occur beyond the 16 and 6°C temperature layers, respectively. The preferred position of the larvae in the gradient temperature did not differ between the two species. The present study suggests that Chionoecetes larvae transported to unsuitable temperatures may not die, but could escape from low temperatures by upward swimming and from high temperatures by sinking.

Merits of Multi-Indicator Precautionary Approach Management in a Male-Only Crab Fishery

Snow crab replaced groundfish fisheries as the primary focus of the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) fishing industry in the mid-1990s. Over the past three decades, management philosophies in this male-only fishery have shifted from promoting industry expansion to promoting industry rationalization to implementing Precautionary Approach (PA) management. Until the mid-2010s, there were regionalized management strategies characterized by higher exploitation rates in northern than southern sub-stock units along the NL marine shelves. However, in the late 2010s, exploitation rates were permitted to elevate to high levels across the entire stock range in association with a large resource decline, and evidence of biological harm through fishing emerged in chronically depleted areas. In 2019, when stock and fishery productivity were near historical lows, a multi-indicator PA system was informally introduced into the management of the resource. This event coincided with anticipated improvements in stock and fishery performance. This paper examines the extent to which the multi-indicator PA management system, focused on the promotion of both biological protection and maximization of fishing efficiency, may have contributed to recent improvements in stock and fishery status. A suite of indicators from areas implementing PA guidance into management in 2019 prior to the formal adoption of the PA system in 2023 suggest the system has been highly beneficial in promoting rapid recovery and improving stock and fishery performance metrics to levels matching or exceeding historical levels under similar conditions. We discuss the capacity of the system to better safeguard biological aspects of resource and fisheries productivity moving forward under a scenario of an expectant resource decline.

Light Intensity of Phosphorescent-Netting Pots and Determining Their Visibility to Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) Using Visual Modeling Techniques

This study explores the visibility of phosphorescent-netting pots to snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) using visual modeling techniques. Light emitted from such pots increases catch per unit effort, yet little is understood about the factors driving these higher catch rates. In this study, we measure pot light emission and snow crab visual acuity. Combining these data with estimates obtained in the literature for other biotic and abiotic factors, we model snow crab vision in relation to the pots. Utilizing these factors and environmental conditions, we derive a contrast ratio between the pot light and the ambient light. Findings reveal that the visibility of pot lights at 200-m depth depends primarily on solar angle (time of day) and time elapsed post-deployment. Additional factors influencing the vision of the pots include water column quality and benthic boundary layer turbidity. This study is the first to model the visual ecology of snow crab and the first to estimate snow crab visual acuity. These insights into snow crab visual ecology can potentially enhance fishing techniques, promote catch efficiency and sustainability, and help provide a path forward for visual ecology research in the fisheries science field.

Interactive effects of predation and climate on the distributions of marine shellfish in the Northwest Atlantic

As climate change transforms marine environments globally, species distributions correspondingly shift to locations where conditions have become or remain favourable. The ability to model these distributional shifts has been facilitated by species distribution models (SDMs). However, current SDM approaches have largely ignored climate‐driven changes in species interactions, which ultimately can have an important influence on species distributions. In this study, we utilize a long‐term, large‐scale dataset spanning 48 years and approximately 30 degrees latitude across the Canadian Atlantic shelf. We examine how climate influences the distribution and predation patterns of two invertebrates, northern shrimp Pandalus borealis and snow crab Chionoecetes opilio, aiming to evaluate the impacts of climate change on prey distributions. We found that both invertebrate species have a pronounced predicted response to climate change, with a northern shift in the distribution of northern shrimp and an overall reduction in abundance of both snow crab and shrimp associated with warming temperatures. Including predatory interactions as predictors in the SDMs (either directly via predator densities or via estimated predation rates) improved prediction accuracy for northern shrimp but not for snow crab. This is consistent with the ecology of these two species, as northern shrimp is more vulnerable to predation than snow crab. We found that the projections of future northern shrimp distributions are sensitive to the predicted spatial distribution and abundance of predators, highlighting the inherent complexity of predicting species response to climate change. Collectively, these results contribute to a broader literature that seeks to improve the capabilities of models to predict the effects of species interactions on species distributions under changing ecological conditions.