The BBC reports that Norway is undergoing a king crab invasion of sorts.
Apparently the crabs are very popular in Russia, y’know, because they taste great. Supply and demand took over, so naturally…
Soviet scientists introduced the species to the Russian Barents Sea near the border with Norway in 1960. They wanted to increase the yield from local fisheries.
Rasmus Hansson of WWF Norway, amongst other scientists, is worried about damage being done to Norweigan ocean life.
“They don’t belong here. The biodiversity convention states specifically that introduced species is one of the four most important factors for species extermination in the world.
“With the king crabs, we know that they are an enormous crab, today it’s about 20 million of them in the Barents Sea. Twenty years ago there were zero.”
What does a non-descript crab safari organizer think? Mr. Lars Petter Oeye says:
“Of course we should say it is an invasive species, and of course we don’t know enough. But it’s not like they’re really destroying the bottom of the sea.”
Well then, as long as they’re not destroying it.
Since I’m a fan of seafood, it seems obvious that the solution is to increase game quotas on the delectable crab. Mr. Hansson of the WWF, and not to mention the local fishermen, agree:
Mr Hansson says the present annual fishing quota of 300,000 crabs must be increased. Local fishermen agree – too many king crabs ruin their nets.
A scrumptious solution, to be sure!
So, everyone, grab your knives and forks and get ready to do your part. The Norweigan ocean ecosystem is at stake!
