October 30, 2025 — Southeast Alaska’s first competitive commercial red king crab fishery in eight years opens on Saturday.
Ten different areas will be open for the fishery. They’ll be managed individually based on how much crab are available in each spot.
State regulations require at least 200,000 pounds of harvestable crab to be available for a commercial opener in the region. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) announced earlier this fall that over 211,000 pounds of crab are available this season.
Red king crab in Southeast Alaska is a low-volume, high-value commercial fishery with just 59 permit holders. Commercial openings have been few and far between, with just one in over a decade. The approaching fishery marks a highly-anticipated comeback.