Alaska crab catcher
01
Alaska is the largest U.S. state on the verge of the Arctic Ocean. It is known as "The Last Wilderness in the World" , but is sandwiched between it and Russia The Bering Sea in the Far East has become one of the most dangerous sea areas for fishing in the world because of powerful currents, endless sea ice and fierce weather.
The Bering Sea is a world-famous fishing ground. In addition to abundant salmon, herring, cod, halibut and octopus, there are also a huge production of 雪蟹 and the most expensive 帝王蟹 .
The local fishermen who specialize in catching crabs are called Alaska crab catchers.
Snow crab is the largest crab resource in Alaska. It has thick meat and fat, fresh and sweet and delicious. Each weighs about 0.7～2.5 kg , and the annual catch in high yield can reach 100,000 tons .
king crab is the most popular delicacy in North America. The meat is tender and juicy. The weight of each is usually about 3 kg , the larger one can reach 5 kg or more, enough for 10 people Enjoy together.
The king crab, known as the "king of crabs", is not scarce at all.
belongs to deep-sea crabs, and its survival depth can reach 850 meters . The survival water temperature is 2 to 5 degrees Celsius, and the minimum acceptable water temperature is 1.4 degrees Celsius.
In such cold waters, many creatures are difficult to survive. King crabs without natural enemies are worthy of the name "水霸王" . What's more awesome is that king crabs can live 30年, and their growth period is 4年. A female crab can produce nearly 10000 live small crabs every year. The rate of reproduction is so amazing, it can be said that it is flooded.
"Water Overlord" king crabs are not scarce at all.
The properties of snow crabs are similar to king crabs, although "Crab brothers" is densely packed in the seabed, but In order to protect them from being overfished and extinct, the Alaska government stipulates that every year October～November allows fishing boats to go to sea to catch king crabs, January～February catch snow crabs, while limiting the number of fishing, each Ship 20 tons .
Nowadays, most crab catchers in Alaska use the large fishing operation boat . Although there are two fishing periods of two months each a year, it is basically within 3～8 days each time. Can complete the fishing quota.
There are about 5-8 crab catchers on a fishing boat. Based on the average working time of 5 days, how much money can 6 people divide?
Look at Baidu's information on the Internet. This passage is widely spread:
"In 2004, Alaska fishing boats caught 6,800 tons of crabs, worth 65.8 million U.S. dollars. This means returning home with a full load. Within 5 days on the fishing boats, each fisherman can earn US$20,000 to US$100,000."
A fishing boat catches 20 tons of crabs in 5 days, less than US$10,000/ton. The total price is up to 200,000 US dollars. How can each fisherman get 100,000 US dollars? Could it be that a captain and a fisherman would dare to go to sea and still do the work of six people?
The income of crab catchers is not that high, don't misrepresent it.
02
Alaskan crab catchers use crab cages to work.
The crab cage is made of steel, with a self-weight of nearly 200 kg , when the crab is full of the cageIt can weigh up to 500 kg when it is child, and crane on board is responsible for retracting and unloading. The crab fishing boat is loaded with 50～60 crab cages, and several crab catchers go out to sea. It usually takes 1 to 2 days to reach the fishing area.
Before sailing, the ship usually prepares fresh water and food for nearly a month, but it is rarely used up. Not to mention the operation time is basically no more than 10 days. The crabs and other seafood caught can be eaten.
Before starting the fishing operation, the crab catchers will prepare the bait, usually 她鱼. They cut hundreds of herrings, packed them in bags, and hooked them to the center of the crab cage. Herring is mixed with bloody fat and is the favorite of king crabs. As long as the crab cage is placed on the bottom of the sea, they will rush into the cage in groups and embark on the road of no return.
Alaska crab catchers use crab cages for their operations
Crab catchers will, according to their experience, put down the cages where the crabs are expected to gather, and the roped crab cages will be thrown away Enter various locations with different depths, and then you will find and . Because before the cage is raised, they will never know what will appear in the cage, whether it is full of crabs or empty.
If you are lucky, you may be in vain for several days. Of course, if you say that you win the jackpot, you can fill up the crab storage in 3 days.
After the cage full of king crabs was pulled up, the crab catchers, with the help of the crane, loaded the cages one by one on the deck, and their busy sorting work began.
In the United States, the fishing of king crabs has strict grade requirements. After each king crab is caught, the crab catcher will sort it on a special crab sorting table. King crabs that do not meet the size Will be released directly to the sea .
It is precisely because Alaska crab catchers strictly abide by this rule that king crabs can live in the Bering Sea.
Busy sorting work
03
Once you encounter a huge colony of king crabs, no matter how bad the weather is, the crab cages will be kept in and out day and night. , Crab catchers have to keep sorting crabs, because their only goal is to fill up the crab storage bin as soon as possible.
Many times, crab catchers have to carry out this mechanical operation for nearly 20 hours every day, and may have to work continuously for 3 to 8 days, high-intensity work caused fatigue , for the sea The job is fatal. This is "The work-related death rate of crab catchers in Alaska is 50 times that of ordinary workers" , "In the crab season, there will be 1 catcher every 7 days on the Bering Sea. The main reason why crab people lost their lives".
27-year-old Lehmander is a member of Alaska crab catchers. He has experienced 5 king crab seasons and 8 gray crab seasons.
"Every time we fish, the sea is like a continuous storm, which is disgusting. And you can't sleep because you can't fix yourself on the bunk, you will keep rolling back and forth in the waves ."
The crab-catching season is all in winter, which is the period of frequent Arctic storms, and the waves of the Bering Sea are extremely turbulent.
The crab boat operating in the storm
When operating, crab catchers often have to withstand strong winds above 100 kilometers per hour and 12 meters high The blow of Julang . In addition, the extreme weather caused the sea surface temperature to drop to minus 5～10 degrees Celsius . A thick layer of ice would hang on the surface of the crab boat. The load on the boat would increase, which could easily lead to capsizing. Bumps, slips and falls on the deck are common.
Icy seaThe water and severe cold weather will not only cause another crab catcher to suffer from hand spasms, but also slow their reaction ability. Coupled with fatigue, if they are not careful, they will die if they are caught in the sea by the fierce seawater.
Even the crab boat itself will pose a great threat to crab catchers. Lehmand said:
"My companion's hand was chopped by the crane cable, and some people were thrown into the sea by the shaking crab cage."
is catching crabs Seasonal Bering Sea kills 1 crabman every 7 days on average
04
Alaska crab catchers go out to sea with life as a bet year after year, why are they willing to do it?
The primary reason is, of course, money , as the so-called "wealth and insurance in seeking" , although 5 days can not make 100,000 US dollars, but 3～4万 It's the income of ordinary blue-collar workers in the United States for a year. If you take the risk and take another trip, your life will be quite moist.
Lehmand compares crab catching to gambling:
"You never know if you will win a lottery. If you hit it, you can make a lot of money. I like it in a short period of time. The idea of working long hours to make a lot of money, rather than spreading these hours throughout the year. "
The second reason is happiness. Raymand’s crab catcher partner Owen said:
"Although it is dangerous and stressful, everyone had a great time. The friendship of my companions makes me willing to continue crazy."
The third reason is admirable . Crab boat “奇才号” Captain Odang is nearly 60 years old. Both of his sons were killed by the sea during crabbing operations, but Odang has never been afraid. “It is what a man must do." (This is what a man must do) .
Audang and his companions
(all pictures in this article are from the Internet)
