Feds declare crab crash disaster

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has declared disaster in multiple Alaska and Washington state fisheries, including the Bristol Bay red king crab and Bering Sea snow crab fisheries.

Details in this news release.

Pushing for help

U.S. senators from Alaska and Washington state want the Biden administration to hurry up and declare a disaster for the crab crash.

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.

This just in

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is requesting a federal fishery disaster declaration for Alaska's crab crash.

Peltola wants $250 million in crab disaster relief

Here's the press release.

'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.

Crab industry's cry for help

Crab harvesters, processors and communities staggered by the closure of Being Sea king and snow crab fisheries want Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy to request federal disaster relief.