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Snow Crabs

All articles tagged with #snow crabs

environment2 years ago•1 min saved

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.

via The Guardian|

#alaska #climate-crisis #environment

environment2 years ago•4 min saved

Alaska's Snow Crab Population Decimated by Ocean Heat

Billions of snow crabs have disappeared from the waters around Alaska, and scientists have determined that warmer ocean temperatures caused them to starve to death. A recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found a significant link between marine heat waves in the eastern Bering Sea and the sudden disappearance of snow crabs. The crabs' metabolism was disrupted by warmer waters, increasing their caloric needs while disrupting the food web. Other species, like Pacific cod, took advantage of the situation and contributed to the decline in the crab population. This event highlights the rapid acceleration of the climate crisis and its impact on marine ecosystems.

via CNN|

#alaska #bering-sea #climate-change