Diet of the snow crab in the Barents Sea and macrozoobenthic communities in the area of its distribution

Abstract Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) has become an important species for the Norwegian seafood industry since its first commercial harvest in 2012. However, periodically catch rates can be low, causing a financial strain on the fishery. Thus, improving the catch rate of existing pot designs has the potential to significantly improve the profitability of fishing enterprises. In this study, we investigated whether the addition of low-powered purple and white light-emitting diode (LED) fishing lights inside the pots could improve catch rates of snow crab in the Barents Sea. Results showed that pots with purple lights harvested a 12.8% higher catch per unit effort (CPUE; number of crab per pot) of legal-sized crab, which was significantly more than the control pots (p = 0.035); pots with white lights did not catch significantly more crab (p > 0.05). Pots equipped with only light (no bait) caught very few crabs and were not considered a viable alternative. Although purple LEDs increased snow crab capture, the economic benefits of using underwater lights in pots remains unclear given the high capital investment required.

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Temperature selection and the final thermal preferendum of snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio, Decapoda) from the Barents Sea

Polar Biology ◽

10.1007/s00300-019-02530-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (10) ◽

pp. 1911-1914 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sten Ivar Siikavuopio ◽

Snorre Bakke ◽

Bjørn Steinar Sæther ◽

Tina Thesslund ◽

Jørgen S. Christiansen

Keyword(s):

Barents Sea ◽

Snow Crab ◽

Temperature Selection ◽

Chionoecetes Opilio ◽

The Barents Sea

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Evidence for a permanent establishment of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in the Barents Sea

Biological Invasions ◽

10.1007/s10530-008-9273-7 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 587-595 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

J. Alvsvåg ◽

A.-L. Agnalt ◽

K. E. Jørstad

Keyword(s):

Barents Sea ◽

Snow Crab ◽

Chionoecetes Opilio ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

Permanent Establishment

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Snow Crab in the Barents Sea: Managing a Non-native Species in Disputed Waters

Arctic Review on Law and Politics ◽

10.23865/arctic.v11.2545 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (0) ◽

pp. 108

Author(s):

Tore Henriksen

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Barents Sea ◽

Law Of The Sea ◽

Snow Crab ◽

Coastal State ◽

Fishing Vessels ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

The Law ◽

The Right ◽

A New Species

The introduction of a new species to the Barents Sea raises questions as to the rights and duties of states under the law of the sea to exploit, manage and conserve the species. This paper discusses three of them. The first question is whether the snow crab qualifies as a sedentary species. The entitlements and competence of states in respect of living marine resources depend on the location and the characteristics of the species. If it qualifies as a sedentary species under the law of the sea, it is subject to the sovereign rights of the coastal States. Otherwise, it is subject to the sovereign right of the coastal States as well as the freedom of fishing, dependent on its distribution. The second question is what, if any, obligations Norway as a coastal State has in respect of conservation and management of the snow crab and how Norway is complying with these obligations. This includes a discussion of whether the snow crab qualifies as an introduced, alien species and the possible implications for the obligations of the coastal State. The area of distribution of the snow crab includes waters within 200 nautical miles off Svalbard, raising a third question as to the implications of the 1920 Treaty concerning Spitsbergen (Svalbard Treaty) and in particular whether fishing vessels of Contracting parties have the right to participate in the harvest on an equal footing with Norwegian vessels. The Norwegian Snow Crab Regulations effectively reserves the harvest of snow crab for Norwegian fishing vessels. The paper discusses the implications of a recent decision by the Norwegian Supreme Court on dismissal of an appeal by a Latvian vessel and its captain convicted for illegal harvest of snow crab within 200 nautical miles off Svalbard.

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Environmental constraints, biological growth and fleet dynamics of a developing fishery: A model study of the Barents Sea snow crab ( Chionoecetes opilio , Majidae) fishery

Fish and Fisheries ◽

10.1111/faf.12618 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Egil Hogrenning ◽

Arne Eide

Keyword(s):

Barents Sea ◽

Snow Crab ◽

Environmental Constraints ◽

Chionoecetes Opilio ◽

Biological Growth ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

Model Study ◽

Fleet Dynamics

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Diet of snow crab in the Barents Sea and macrozoobenthic communities in its area of distribution

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsaa132 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Denis V Zakharov ◽

Igor E Manushin ◽

Tatiana B Nosova ◽

Natalya A Strelkova ◽

Valery A Pavlov

Keyword(s):

Barents Sea ◽

Benthic Communities ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Snow Crab ◽

Feeding Intensity ◽

Novaya Zemlya Archipelago ◽

Novaya Zemlya ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

The Pacific ◽

Almost All

Abstract This article investigates the diet of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and its feeding intensity in the Barents Sea. Data show that snow crab has a diverse diet that includes almost all types of benthic invertebrates living in the Barents Sea. There are differences between the diets of females and males and of juveniles and adults. Juveniles and females typically occupy shallow areas with communities of bivalve molluscs, while males typically live deeper on slopes and depressions where polychaetes and crustaceans are the most abundant groups. Stomach contents were analysed to determine the species composition and frequency of occurrence of various benthic taxa. Consumption of food was estimated and compared with data from the Russian seas of the Pacific region. The total annual consumption of macrozoobenthos by snow crab was calculated in accordance with its current distribution in the Barents Sea. Snow crab consumes at least 30 000 tonnes of benthos annually, which amounts to 0.1–0.2% of the total macrozoobenthic biomass in the investigated area. The population of snow crab causes the largest impact on the benthic communities in the northeastern part of the Barents Sea and near the south side of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.

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Taxonomic and genetic confirmed findings of snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) larvae in the Barents Sea

Polar Biology ◽

10.1007/s00300-021-02946-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ann Merete Hjelset ◽

Hanna Ellerine Helle Danielsen ◽

Jon-Ivar Westgaard ◽

Ann-Lisbeth Agnalt

Keyword(s):

Barents Sea ◽

Cold Water ◽

Genetic Identification ◽

Snow Crab ◽

Temporal And Spatial Distribution ◽

Crab Larva ◽

Chionoecetes Opilio ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Research Survey ◽

The Barents Sea

AbstractThe snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) is an Arctic cold-water species native to the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and the northern Pacific Ocean. During the recent decades, a population has established in the Barents Sea. Several aspects of the snow crabs’ biology in this area have not been described, including time of hatching, intermoult duration of the different larval stages and larval distribution. Insight into the early-life stages might increase the understanding of the population's dynamics and further spreading in the Barents Sea as well as inform basis for making monitoring and management decisions. The present study investigated the presence and developmental stage of snow crab larva in plankton samples obtained in the central Barents Sea during a research survey in June and July 2019. Presence of snow crab larvae was confirmed through taxonomic and genetic identification. All larvae were identified as zoea I, which gives an indication of the timing of the hatching period. Morphological measurements coincide well with those reported in studies from the species native distribution range. No larvae of native Hyas spp. were found and overlap in temporal and spatial distribution is discussed. The study provides important information for development of further research into the biology of the snow crab in the Barents Sea.

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Combining data from different sampling methods to study the development of an alien crab Chionoecetes opilio invasion in the remote and pristine Arctic Kara Sea

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.7952 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e7952

Author(s):

Anna K. Zalota ◽

Olga L. Zimina ◽

Vassily A. Spiridonov

Keyword(s):

Population Growth ◽

Barents Sea ◽

Kara Sea ◽

High Density ◽

Yamal Peninsula ◽

Snow Crab ◽

Chionoecetes Opilio ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

Crab Population ◽

Size Groups

Data obtained using three different types of sampling gear is compared and combined to assess the size composition and density of a non-indigenous snow crab population Chionoecetes opilio in the previously free of alien species Kara Sea benthos. The Sigsbee trawl has small mesh and catches even recently settled crabs. The large bottom trawl is able to catch large crabs, but does not retain younger crabs, due to its large mesh. Video sampling allows the observation of larger crabs, although some smaller crabs can also be spotted. The combined use of such gear could provide full scope data of the existing size groups in a population. The density of the crabs was calculated from the video footage. The highest figures were in Blagopoluchiya Bay at 0.87 crabs/m2, where the settlement seems to be reaching its first peak of population growth after the introduction. High density in the Kara Gates Strait at 0.55 crabs/m2, could be due to the close proximity of the Barents Sea from where the crabs can enter by both larval dispersal and active adult migration. All size groups have been present in most sampled areas, which suggest successful settlement and growth of crabs over a number of years. Again, this was not the case in Blagopoluchiya Bay with high density of small crabs (<30 mm CW), which confirms its recent population growth. Male to female ratio was strikingly different between the bays of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and west of the Yamal Peninsula (0.8 and 3.8 respectively). Seventy five ovigerous females were caught in 2016, which confirms the presence of a reproducing population in the Kara Sea. The spatial structure of the snow crab population in the Kara Sea is still in the process of formation. The presented data indicates that this process may lead to a complex system, which is based on local recruitment and transport of larvae from the Barents Sea and across the western Kara shelf; formation of nursery grounds; active migration of adults and their concentration in the areas of the shelf with appropriate feeding conditions.

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