Certifier : 
UCSL United Certification Systems Limited
Certified status : 
Certified
Certified since : 
22 Feb 2018
Certificate expires : 
03 Dec 2028

Overview

Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.

When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries

Units of Certification & Certificate Information

  • Certified
    MSC UoC Number Species Gear Type Ocean Area Certificate Code
    UoC-1508 Red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) Traps - Pots: traps 27 (Atlantic, Northeast) MSC-F-31356 (F-ACO-0121)

View glossary of terms

Catch by Species

Species Reported Catch Year Metric Tonnes
Red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) 2022 9,955.3

Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.

Eligibility, client groups and vessel lists

A fishery may choose to define the members of the fishery certificate. These members can be vessels or other client group members (e.g. companies that own vessels and/or companies that are named as eligible to handle certified product covered within the fishery certificate scope). Please refer to the fishery certificate statement on additional product specific eligibility criteria (e.g. product eligibility limitations, eligibility date, exclusive points of landing and the point where Chain of Custody certificate is required). Please consult the fishery Public Certification Report for product eligibility rationale.

Documents Published on Files
Vessel List 06 Mar 2024 1 files

About this Fishery

The red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), is also known as the Kamchatka crab or Alaskan king crab. The species is native to the Bering sea and was introduced to the Barents Sea around Murmansk in north west Russia in the 1960s. Red king crabs can grow as large as 28 cm (11 inches - carapace) with a leg span of up 1.8 m (5.9 ft). 

The Association of Crab Catchers of North (the fishery client) was established as a non-profit organisation in 1992. It currently possesses 10 crab vessels, used to carry crab from the fishing ground in the Russian Economic Zone (REZ) to Murmansk. Crabs are harvested during the autumn-winter period between August and December, using pots

 

Market Information

Red king crab is sold in sections, both cooked and fresh frozen, and whole (boiled frozen). The main markets are Russia, the EU, USA and China.