The blue king crab (*Paralithodes platypus*) is a large, cold-water crustacean known for its striking blue-tinged shell and prized, sweet meat. Native to the frigid waters of the North Pacific, especially around the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, blue king crab is primarily harvested by commercial fisheries using pots and traps. Russia and the United States (particularly Alaska) are the top blue king crab fishing countries, with Russia leading in recent years due to expanded quotas and broader fishing grounds in the Russian Far East. The Alaskan blue king crab fishery, focused mainly around the Pribilof and St. Matthew Islands, is tightly managed to prevent overfishing, with periodic closures to allow stock recovery. Both nations export significant portions of their catch to global markets, making blue king crab a valuable commodity in the international seafood industry.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russian Federation | 7,664 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.