changing of the climate is one of the prime suspects in Alaska’s ringworm mass mortality, experts say, after the northwestern state USA will take an unprecedented measure: cancel the collection this season in order to save the species.
Total crustaceans decreased from 11.7 billion in 2018 to about 1.9 billion in 2022, representing a reduction of about 84%, according to an assessment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) annual survey of the bottom of the Bering Sea, for its English acronym language).
For the first time the department of fish and game Alaska announced in a statement that the 2022-23 Bering Sea snow crab season will remain closed and that efforts should now be directed towards “preservation and restoration, taking into account the state of the population.”
This species is also found in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas further north, but does not grow to habitable sizes. fishing.
Erin Fedeva, marine biologist at the Fisheries Science Center in Alaskatold AFP that the current shocking numbers are the result of the 2018 and 2019 heatwaves.
“The cold habitat they need was virtually non-existent, suggesting that temperature is indeed the main culprit in population decline,” he explained.
A historically rich resource in the Bering Sea, its loss is considered an indicator of environmental disruption.
Warmer temperatures are thought to have depleted the species in several ways.
Studies point to a higher prevalence of so-called kidney disease. crab bitter when the temperature rises.
Crustaceans also experience higher metabolic stress in warmer waters, meaning they need more energy to survive.
“A hypothesis currently under development is that crabs they were starving, they couldn’t handle their metabolic needs,” Fedeva explained.
crabs Young snowfish, in particular, need cold temperatures to hide from their main predator, the Pacific cod.
temperature in regions where juveniles typically live, it jumped from 1.5 degrees Celsius in 2017 to 3.5 degrees Celsius in 2018, with research showing that 3°C could be an important threshold.
this is not overkill
Additional research is ongoing and results should be published soon. Meanwhile, everything points to changing of the climateFedev expressed his opinion.
“These are truly unprecedented and disturbing times for the iconic fishery alaskan crab and for hard-working fishermen and the communities that depend on them,” said Jamie Goen, executive director of the Alaska Bering Sea Crab Fishing Association, lamenting that second and third generations of families in the sector were “out of business.”
The sector was also affected by the abolition of fishing crab a red giant from Bristol Bay for the second year in a row.
Fedeva also noted that overfishing is not the main factor in population decline. crabs snow
fishing this eliminates only large adult males, he argued, adding that “we have seen this decline in all sizes.” crab snow, which really suggests there’s some sort of bottom-up environmental factor at play.”
crabs snow Alaska According to NOAA, they can reach 15 centimeters in carapace width, but females rarely exceed 7.6 centimeters.
The good news is that this year’s study found a significant increase immature crabs compared to last year, but it will take four to five years before the males reach sizes suitable for catching fish.
After several years of heat waves, the temperature has returned to normal, and “it is hoped that, having left crabs intact will allow them to breed, there will be no mortality, and we can let the population try to recover, ”Fedeva said.
But it’s a hope that depends on more heatwaves.
AFP
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.