It is fact that Alaskan king crab fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in North America. As said that king crabs fishing as a profession is filled with perilous conditions and casualties resulting in loss of lives. But, still it is popular, as it is a very high paying profession. The type of Alaskan king crabs, which are commercially fished are the red king crabs, the blue king crabs and the golden king crabs.
Experts believe that crabbing, as it is popularly know as, comes with occupational hazards, such as icy glacial waters of the sub-zero Arctic Ocean, with treacherous waves pounding at the decks of the fishing boats. It is told that during season the crab meat production is believed to go up to 200 million pounds. Recently, the crab meat hauls have not been like before, as the catch has decreased due to overfishing, warmer waters and increased fish predation.
It is informed that the main process of commercial Alaskan crab fishing consists of the use of steel traps also called pots. These pots usually weigh around 600 pounds. These pots filled with bait fish are dropped into the sea from both sides of the fishing boat. There are buoys attached to the pots, which help in locating them. The pots are set in strings to get the best catch, and remain in the water for a specific amount of time. A hook is thrown to the buoys and then it is pulled up with the help of a hydraulic system.
