Scientists are conducting a detailed seafloor mapping exercise to map essential crab habitat in the Pribilof Islands off Alaska. The pilot project uses multi-beam sonar to survey the structure and texture of the seafloor, with the aim to discover and record crushed shell deposits or “shell hash” that is important for young crab development.
The pilot project for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is being used to refine methods for larger scale efforts. The mapping of seafloor features aims to help determine why king crab are in decline, while also collecting data at sufficient resolution for seafloor charting.
Read more about this project in the Juneau Empire.
