Top Red King Crab Fishing Countries

The Red King Crab (*Paralithodes camtschaticus*) is one of the world’s most prized crustaceans, renowned for its impressive size and sweet, succulent meat. Native to the cold waters of the North Pacific, particularly the Bering Sea, this species supports a lucrative commercial fishery. The leading red king crab fishing countries are Russia and the United States, with significant harvests coming from Russian waters around the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Barents Sea (where the species was introduced), as well as from Alaska in the U.S. Historically, Japan was also a major harvester, but its catches have declined. The industry is tightly regulated, especially in Alaska, to prevent overfishing and maintain sustainable stocks, with strict quotas and seasonal closures. In Russia, both wild and introduced populations are fished, and the country has become the world’s top exporter in recent years. Red king crab is a valuable export commodity, particularly to markets in Asia, Europe, and North America, making it a key economic resource for these northern nations.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.