Comment by neonnoodle
2 years ago
I started casually watching the reality TV series "Deadliest Catch" about 15 years ago, and became a regular viewer since then. In that time span:
- the amount of Bering Sea ice has dropped significantly
- the amount of 100-year storms has increased
- crab numbers have decreased
- crab seasons have been outright canceled due to major population collapses
- crab that remain are seeking deeper/colder water
As much dissembling as people want to do about climate change, you can see with your own two eyes the difference between season 1 and now. They almost never mention climate change on the show. They complain a lot about how "regulations" are destroying the fishermen's livelihood.
People negatively affect by regulation complain about regulation. Say it ain't so!
Any regulation of this type has a pointy end poking into someones back, regardless of the overall goal or intent of the regulation. Doesn't mean the regulation is bad, simply that it impacts someone.
While climate change is certainly having an impact on the crab fisheries in Alaska, none of the population changes have been attributed to over fishing. While, like everyone, the fleet contributes to systemic climate change, it's certainly not "their fault". They're just another microcosm showing impact of the climate dynamic. The Alaska fisheries are some of the best managed fisheries in the world, and the fishermen comply and work with the regulations.
The change to a quota system over the free-for-all derby system impacted a lot of fishermen. No doubt those whose livelihood were disrupted probably have a low opinion of it. The survivors probably enjoy it more, as its a more deterministic and safer system without the racing aspects of derby fishing, and the fishery is better managed because of it.
Arguably an overall win. But not for those who dropped off the bottom, they were forced to find something else.
interestingly, blue crab from the US atlantic coast is now an invasive species in the mediterranean.
We should ship over a few large containers of "Old Bay", perhaps that will help fix that problem over there. Blue crab are, indeed, "Good eats".
sure, there was a somewhat large media frenzy focused on them in Italy last summer, with literal titles such as "what are blue crabs, why are they dangerous but delicious"[0]
[0] https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/article/granchio-blu-cosa-pe...