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The latest ratings are in: Alaska crab is the best sustainable choice. But once you look beyond Alaska, crab sourcing can get complicated fast. That’s where the Seafood Watch guide comes in—it breaks everything down with clear, straightforward tips on which crab to choose and which to avoid, so you can buy with confidence.
Seafood Watch, launched over 25 years ago by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, is one of the most trusted programs for evaluating the environmental impacts of wild fisheries and aquaculture. By analyzing factors like stock health, bycatch, and fishery management, Seafood Watch helps consumers and businesses choose seafood that is sustainably sourced and responsibly harvested. Using the ratings: Best Choice, Good Alternative and Avoid, buyers are given clear guidance on what products they should purchase.
Over the years, Alaska crab has earned some of the highest ratings from Seafood Watch, thanks to their world-leading approach to fishery science and management.
Why Alaska Crab Stands Out
1. Science-Based Management
Alaska’s crab fisheries operate under some of the most rigorous management standards in the world. Fisheries are closed when stocks need time to rebuild, and harvest levels are set annually according to stock assessments and robust scientific modeling. After reviewing the data, conservative catch limits are set to protect the resource, not exploit it.
2. A Commitment to Long-Term Sustainability
Alaska is one of the only states that has actually written sustainability into their constitution. Under Article 8, “Natural Resources”, Alaska mandates that replenishable resources be managed on a sustain yield principle. This means that the harvest of a natural resource, like King crab, shall never surpass that resource’s ability to regenerate. Additionally, Alaska takes further steps to ensure sustainability through social responsibility commitments, resource utilization, and certified fisheries.
3. Low Bycatch & Responsible Harvesting Methods
Alaska crab is harvested using pot gear which significantly reduces the risk of bycatch compared to other fishing gear. These pots are built specifically to only trap males of mature size. If pots are pulled up before juveniles or females can escape, fishermen sort them out and return them safely back to the water.
4. Independent Verifications
Seafood Watch isn’t the only authority praising Alaska crab. Organizations like the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) and Certified Seafood International (CSI) have also certified Alaska’s crab fisheries.
How Seafood Watch Rates Alaska Crab
The goal of Seafood Watch is to encourage consumers to choose sustainably sourced Seafood. This is defined as seafood that is fished or farmed in a way that can maintain or increase production without jeopardizing the structure and function of affected ecosystems, minimize harmful environmental impacts, assure good and fair working conditions, and support livelihoods and economic benefits throughout the supply chain. While ratings can change, Alaska crab is often listed as Best Choice reflecting:
- Healthy stock assessments
- Fishing tactics that minimally impact other species
- Responsible fishery management
- Gear that causes little disruption to surrounding marine ecosystems
This makes Alaska crab one of the most responsible options for businesses and consumers looking to support sustainable seafood.
Keyport’s Commitment to Sustainability
Our family-owned business is proud to be a part of the strong alliance of fishermen, biologists, and coastal communities that work together to harvest and process Alaska crab and seafood using the best practices of sustainability. Alaska’s remote, pristine fishing grounds produce some of the most sought after wild-caught crab and seafood in all the world. Keyport takes great pride in delivering the highest quality product available while also continuing our family’s long-held commitment to sustainability of Alaska’s precious fisheries.