The intentional introduction of the marine red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus into the Southern Barents Sea

The red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) was intentionally transferred from areas in the Northern Pacific Ocean to the Russian Barents Sea during the 1960s (1961–1969), to create a new and valuable commercial resource. A reproductive population in the receptor region was evident ten years later and from this time the species has continued to spread both north and east in the Barents Sea and southwards along the coast of Northern Norway. Ecological impacts upon the native fauna are investigated through, among others, analysis of the diet of the crab, as molluscs, echinoderms, polychaetes and crustaceans are frequently found as prey items. 

Problems following the invasion of the red king crab are displayed as bycatch of crabs in gillnet- and longline-fisheries. The crab is regarded as a commercial resource both in Russia and Norway. Management of the red king crab is undertaken as a joint stock between Norway and Russia through the Joint Russian-Norwegian Fishery Commission.