Paralithodes camtschaticus, commonly known as the red king crab, is a large crustacean native to the North Pacific Ocean (Pedersen et al., 2006). The species was intentionally introduced to the Barents Sea during the 1960s and 1970s by Soviet scientists, with the aim of enhancing local fisheries and regional economic development (Orlov and Ivanov, 1978). This species belongs to anomuran crustaceans and it is one of the largest benthic invertebrates in the Barents Sea. Adult specimens may weigh more than 10 kg (Powell and Nickerson 1965) with life expectancy of up to 20 years (Kurata 1961) and individuals generally reach sexual maturity at around five years of age (Hjelset et al., 2009).
This species occurs mainly in cold-temperate to subarctic coastal waters and is found on a range of bottom types, especially sand, pebbles, mud, and mixed hard bottoms. Adults and larger juveniles are commonly recorded from shallow coastal shelf habitats to deeper waters, and in Norwegian waters it has been reported from roughly 5 to 400 m depth, depending on season. Todays distribution of the species extend to Tromsø, Norway (Fig 1). The life cycle of P. camtschaticus includes a pelagic larval phase allowing for long distance dispersal (Pedersen et al., 2006). Juveniles and adults inhabit benthic environments, at depths ranging from 4 to 250 meters.
The invasion of red king crab negatively affects Norwegian marine life by increasing predation pressure on native seafloor fauna, especially large and slow-growing epibenthic species, which can lead to major community changes and even local extinction of vulnerable prey such as scallops (Jørgensen and Primicerio, 2006; Oug et al., 2011). The red king crab was estimated at 4–5 million individuals (Sundet, 2008), highlighting its remarkable invasion success across the 30 years since first detection.
The red king crab is considered a culinary delicacy and commands high prices on international seafood markets, making it economically valuable (Lorentzen et al., 2018). This has put Norway in situation where the red king crab is in fact not managed as an invasive unwanted species (Sundet and Hoel, 2016). Specific control measures have thus included commercial fishing using quota systems east of the 26° meridian and subsequently free fishing west of the 26° east meridian (Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, 2007). This action has been a specific control measure to limit further expansion or the red king crab.
“This project is not just about managing invasive species today—it’s about developing a proactive approach that anticipates future ecological challenges, ensuring robust ecosystems and sustainable marine environments for generations to come”
“For over 35 years, since I first began studying non-indigenous species, I have dreamed of tools that could reveal the ‘Big Picture’ of the transfer, spread, and impacts of invasive aquatic species. Thanks to advances in new technologies, the GuardIAS project now offers an outstanding opportunity to make that vision a reality.”
Anastasija is a marine scientist with a broad expertise in aquatic ecology, ecology of biological invasions and the development and assessment of molecular tools for monitoring and surveillance.
Anastasija is a co-founder and Lead Scientist of Sequench Ltd (Nelson, New Zealand), specializing in molecular research and services as well as development of optimised sampling solutions for eDNA.
In 2023, she was elected a President of the newly established Southern eDNA Society (SeDNAs), which aims to promote science and industry collaboration to advance best practice eDNA methods and their wider adoption nature research and conservation.
Marine biologist with over 40 years of experience in temperate seas and the Arctic. His research focuses on climate change, human impacts, and the spread of invasive alien species. He has pioneered international tools such as AquaNIS and other information system on IAS, IAS impact assessment and bioinvasion indicators.
