Retrospective dynamics of the red king crab stock status index in the northwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk

The purpose of the work. To establish the relative index of the commercial stock (I%Z) of the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus and to qualitatively assess the dynamics of the stock status in the northwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk for 1995-2023. Material and methods. The annual estimates of the commercial stock of P. camtschaticus crab, obtained from direct accounting data, were converted into relative stock indices (I%Z) expressed as a percentage of the year with the maximum stock estimate in retrospect. Using a similar method of uniform scaling, relative indexes were set for: the total crab catch, the average daily catch of the vessel, the number of days spent on the total catch, and other parameters of fishing statistics. Results. In the period 1995-2023, all relative indices of fishing statistics had fluctuations in values from 7-10 to 90-100% with varying inertia over time. The maximum values of the indices were: the index of commercial stocks (I%Z) in 2018; the index of average daily catch for the year (I%dV) in 2023; the index of annual total catch (I%V) and other commercial statistical indices in 2003. The minimum values of the indices were recorded in 2003-2004 and 2012-2015. New data. The values of the crab fishing stock index (scale 0-100%) were divided into four zones (quartiles), each is given an estimated characteristic of the stock condition – good, satisfactory, uncertain and depressive. At the present stage, the red king crab stock index I%Z has a high level – 80% of the maximum value in 2018 and it is interconnected with other indices of fishing statistics. Practical significance. The dynamics of the I%Z red king crab fishing stock index, being an operational indicator, visually demonstrates its significant variability in the studied historical period. At the present time, the I%Z index indicates that now in the northwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, the commercial stock of the red king crab is in a stable condition.