NOAA Fisheries scientists developed new models to predict red king crab bycatch occurrence and abundance in Bristol Bay flatfish trawl fisheries. They found a general northward shift in occurrence and abundance of different ages of male and female red king crab in Bristol Bay.
"By demonstrating that it’s possible to predict where and when bycatch occurs, this model is an important first step towards building predictive tools for fishing fleets and fisheries managers to reduce bycatch,” said Emily Ryznar, lead author and fisheries biologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.