This research focused on analysis of the minimum size limit for Eastern Bering Sea Tanner crab fisheries. The goal of this work was to evaluate the merits of a reduced minimum size limit for the Tanner crab fisheries both east (“Bristol Bay area”) and west (“Pribilof Islands area”) of 166 degrees W longitude in the eastern Bering Sea. A number of important research questions were addressed in this work including; the size of maturity and how has it changed over time, the optimal size limit based on yield per recruit, how might landings, bycatch, discards, and revenues change under a reduced size limit if applied to current low stock conditions and potential future high stock levels, and how should harvest rates be modified under alternative minimum size limits. This research was reviewed and approved by the Alaska Board of Fisheries recently where the minimum size limit for legal bairdi crab was reduced.
2009/10 Eastern Bering Sea Tanner Crab Size Limit
