Crab association appeals for help

The crab crash has hit so hard that Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers is resorting to a GoFundMe campaign to buoy the organization.

ABSC is a Seattle-based trade association representing crab fishermen and vessel owners.

In better times, ABSC appeared to be a fairly well-financed organization.

According to its most recent Form 990 annual information return filed with the IRS, the association reported total revenue of $672,875 and $199,999 in compensation to its executive director, Jamie Goen.

'Prepared to fight'

Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, a trade association, posted the following to Facebook:

This week, Alaska's crab industry is continuing to absorb the seismic shock of the Bristol Bay red king crab and snow crab closures.

So what's next? Crabbers are asking for a path forward with economic stability. They believe there is a way to have a low, steady harvest with added conservation measures while crab stocks rebuild. Crabbers also need federal aid to weather this storm, and they need it quickly.

We know that tough times are ahead, but our fishermen are stewards of the crab resource and are prepared to fight for its existence.

Shell-shocked crabbers urge 'bold actions'

Facing a rare and devastating season closure of the lucrative Bristol Bay red king crab fishery, a crabbing organization says the outlook for snow crab isn't good, either.

More in this press release from Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers.

More backing for Begich

Another commercial fishing group, Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, is supporting the re-election bid of U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska.

Read the endorsement here.