Alaska's Crabs Vanish: Warm Ocean and Closure Impact Fisheries

Billions of snow crabs in Alaska have disappeared due to warmer ocean temperatures, according to a study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The change in water temperature increased the crabs' caloric needs, leading to mass starvation. Record-breaking ocean temperatures in 2018 and 2019 initially caused a boom in the snow crab population before it sharply declined in 2022. The phenomenon is a result of the climate crisis, with the warming Arctic temperatures contributing to the decline in the species. The shortage of snow crabs has economic consequences, impacting the Alaskan commercial fishing industry and leading to the closure of crucial harvests.