The king crab is native to the Bering Sea, Adult crabs are found
usually more than 200 m down on the sand and muddy areas in the substrate. They
migrate in the winter/ early spring to shallower depths for mating, but most of
their lives are spent in the deep waters where they feed.
The
red king crab is the largest species of king crab. Red king
crabs can reach a carapace width of up to 28 cm (11 in), a leg
span of 1.8 m (5.9 ft), and
a weight of 12.7 kg (28 lb). Males
grow larger than females. Today red king crabs infrequently surpass 17 cm
(7 in) in carapace width and the average male landed in the Bering Sea weighs
2.9 kg (6.4 lb). It
was named after the color it turns when it is cooked rather than the color of a
living animal, which tends to be more burgundy.
The
species is protected by diplomatic accords between Norway and Russia, and a
bilateral fishing commission decides how to manage the stocks and imposes
fishing quotas. West of the North Cape on
Norway's northern tip, Norway is allowed to manage its crab population itself. Only
259 Norwegian fishermen are allowed to catch it, and they see the king crab as a blessing,
as it is an expensive delicacy.
(挪威帝王蟹)(白令海帝王蟹)
