Warmer oceans blamed for disappearance of billions of Alaska's Snow crabs
ocean temperatures for the extinction of billions of snow crabs in Alaska's Bering Sea. The most recent discoveries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shed light on the unexpected loss of snow crabs, resulting in the postponement of the snow crab harvest season for the second year in a row.
The study, authored by Cody Szuwalski, a fishery biologist at NOAA, highlights a compelling connection between marine heat waves in the eastern Bering Sea and the mysterious disappearance of snow crabs, a phenomenon that emerged in surveys in 2021.
Szuwalski expressed astonishment when he first analyzed the 2021 survey data, stating, «My mind was just blown.» However, the following year brought the grim realization that this was not a transient issue but a long-term concern.
While overfishing has been blamed for the decline in snow crab populations, experts clarified that the term «overfished» is a technical definition triggering conservation measures, leaving the actual cause of the collapse unexplained. Szuwalski noted that climate change has introduced a new challenge, disrupting established management systems and scientific predictions.
The research delved into two primary possibilities: either the snow crabs migrated or perished.
The scientists explored various regions, including northern Bering Sea, Russian waters, and deeper ocean levels, ultimately concluding that migration was improbable, with a mortality event being the more likely driver.
Warmer temperatures and higher population density were identified as factors significantly linked to increased mortality among mature snow crabs. These cold-water species are typically found in areas where water temperatures remain below 2 degrees Celsius,
