Red Blue

Cook King Blue Crabs

There are so many kinds of Live Blue Crabs that dwell our vast ocean at present. In Alaska you will find three that are commercially fished. They are Red, Blue, and Golden. Paralithodes Platypus is the scientific name of the Blue king crabs and these crabs significantly became insufficient in supply come the tail part of 1990. The abrupt decline pierce into the heart of the fishing industry of King crabs. The effect of the so called phenomenon murdered if not killed the very business it contributes and in 1999, the Blue King crabs livelihood came to an end. Where have all the Blue King crab gone? Were they gone for good?

Where did they go? Did the greed of men was the last straw that these crabs finally vanish away from their reach? Alaskan Snow Crab fishing expedition began during the 1960’s where its value started being appreciated. Early on in 1980, catching these King crabs was recorded as highest and was rich mostly in the coast of Pribilof Islands (known as Fur Seal Island) which is located in the Bering Sea. However, by 1995 the supplies in the ocean was at an all time low having decreased around 92%. Catching, selling and trading of these crabs were no longer feasible.

The waning in numbers triggered an investigation to study the life cycle of the Blue King crabs in order to try to salvage them of extinction. They cultivated larvae and learned from the series of changes of form and activity that these organisms undergo. On the part of the fishermen, they helped through catching fine samples for specimens in the rehabilitation plan in 2006. Data and critical information were gathered, environment temperature was measured as well as eating habits, life expectancy and dwellings were accounted. They achieved their goal and the study was a success.

Important to note that in nature a cycle of two years is needed in order for the crab to reproduce. Approximately about 150,000 eggs go through fertilizations where the female crabs contain it in her abdomen in the extent of one year. After hatching the larvae another full year must past before the female is ready to mate again. It was very easy to find excellent subjects for research since the embryos were so very easily reached.

In the positive outcome of the research conducted in bringing back the once abundant Blue King crabs, it was in November 2009 that fishing for these crabs resurfaced for the better and talks about it being gone for some time is unheard.

One remarkable characteristic of these types of crabs are their huge right claw and sometimes considered as the largest king crabs available in the freezing sea of Alaska. Although their body are mostly color brown, one can still see highlights of royal blue in their shells. Once cooked, these crabs turned their color into orange red as if it is magic. Close to the St. Matthew Islands one weighing eighteen pounds was caught.

Some asked in how many crab legs can one have in a 10 pounds dinner. A six to nine translates a 10 ponder meal into a six to nine crabs legs served to your plate. Considered as sweet, tasty and luscious to one’s tongue, the Blue King crabs flavour is comparable to the Red King crabs.

In the market, one can buy these crabs already cooked and chilled to retain its original taste.

If asked if where all these Blue creatures gone? It’s nice to say now that happy are the people who love this taste quenching dinner that they are finally back!

B DOUBLE E – Red and Blue KU (Official Music Video)