Distribution and status of the king crab stock in the Russian territorial waters of the Barents Sea
Distribution of the red king crab in the Russian territorial waters of the Barents Sea is limited by bottom temperature and hydrology regime of waters. During the summer period 20082013 in the coastal Murman dominated female, juvenile and pre-recruits of red king crab. Trend to an increase in average catches and modal carapace width of the red king crab was observed in 2013. Increase in the proportion of injured crabs from the eastern to the western areas may be caused by increase in the density of clusters and the intensification of illegal fishing.