Top Tanner Crab Fishing Countries

The Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi), known for its sweet, delicate meat and spindly legs, is a cold-water crustacean primarily found in the North Pacific Ocean. The species is most abundantly harvested in the waters off Alaska, making the United States the world’s leading producer of Tanner crab, particularly from the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. Russia also maintains a significant Tanner crab fishery, especially in the Sea of Okhotsk and the western Bering Sea. Both countries have established robust fisheries management systems to support sustainable harvesting, given the species’ economic importance and vulnerability to overfishing. Japan, while historically a major harvester, now imports much of its supply due to declining domestic stocks. The Tanner crab industry is vital to coastal communities in Alaska and the Russian Far East, supporting both local economies and international seafood markets.

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