It isn't all bad news for the 2023-2024 fishing season. Earlier in October, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council confirmed that the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery will reopen following two years of cancellations. The Bering Sea Tanner crab will be available to fish, as well. Per Seattle's KING 5 News, the red king crab's population has risen to 2.15 million pounds — levels that allow for sustainable fishing. When the fishery was last open in 2020, the species measured 2.6 million pounds.
"This is exciting for our industry to be getting to fish red king crab and a financial relief for our industry since federal fishery disaster relief funds from the previous crab closures still haven't been paid to the fishermen and communities harmed," Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers' Jamie Goen told KING 5.
The "Deadliest Catch" crew is already itching to go. Series producer Todd Stanley posted a YouTube video of the crew filming preliminary footage for Season 20. Set to "Gonna Fly Now" from "Rocky," the video sees crew members assembling in what appears to be Dutch Harbor. The sneak peek is titled "Everyone's a director! Deadliest Catch Season 20."
