Snow crabs are a yummy cuisine food item. Unsurprisingly, they are wolfed down by various predators, like humans and Pacific cod. Though they may be popular on the menu, their populations are dwindling. It might become reality in the future, that these amazing food items and creatures are wiped clean from the earth’s blue face.

Snow crabs have been devastated by overfishing and climate change. NOAA, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, reported a population decline of 80 percent. These crabs aren’t picky and will consume anything they get their hands on, such as clams, brittle stars, fish, sponges, and algae. They, on the other hand, are consumed by seals and sea otters, octopi, fish, and other crabs. They live on the coast of Alaska, Beaufort, and Chukchi seas less than 650 feet deep.

According to NOAA, 557,400 metric tons of Snow Crab were captured in the Bering Sea in 1982, unveiling their huge abundance. In 2002, though, only 156,100 metric tons were fished in the same sea, less than half of the original population. As of 2020, only 41,210 metric tons were reported, around one-thirteenth (1/13) of their original stock numbers. It is no wonder many Snow Crab harvesters have briefly closed.

Thankfully, regulations are installed relentlessly as many countries work together to protect the endangered species. The regulations aim to prevent things like ghost fishing. Hopefully, this crab might see a brighter and higher population in the near future.