Bering Sea

Marine Heatwave Drove Surge in Rare Hybrid Crabs Across the Bering Sea

A marine heatwave in the Bering Sea appears to have reshaped the region’s crab population, driving a sharp rise in rare snow-Tanner hybrid crabs after billions of snow crabs disappeared. Scientists say the hybrids were suddenly far more common in commercial catches in 2025, underscoring how rapidly warming oceans can alter marine ecosystems and fisheries management. The finding adds a new dimension to climate risk in Alaska’s waters, where ecological disruption is increasingly colliding with economic dependence on crab harvests.