Blue King Crab

The blue king crab is found in the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, concentrated in shallower, rocky habitat near islands such as St. Matthew and St. Lawrence in Alaskan waters. Its carapace carries a distinct blue tint, setting it apart from the more common red king crab that shares much of its range. Like other king crabs, it is descended from hermit crab ancestors rather than true crabs, shown by its asymmetrical, twisted abdomen carried folded beneath the body. Populations around St. Matthew Island once supported a significant commercial fishery, but stocks collapsed sharply in the late twentieth century and the fishery has been closed for extended periods since to allow the population to recover. It feeds on a mix of worms, mollusks, and other small invertebrates on the sea floor. Fishery managers continue to monitor its numbers closely given the species' history of sudden decline.