Growth model of juvenile Red king crab in the Barents Sea

Abstract

Parameters of the growth model in juvenile red king crabs were determined for the first time on the base of analysis size-at-age data obtained for the crabs collected in Dalnezelenetskaya Bay (Eastern Murman, Barents Sea) in the summer period, 2002–2010. Growth of immature individuals is described by the Gompertz equation with the intrinsic growth rate 0.630. Size of juvenile crabs (carapace width) at the age 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years was estimated to be 1.4, 10.7, 31.9, 57.0, 77.6 and 91.6 mm, respectively. Growth rates in early juveniles in the area studied were higher than in Bristol Bay (Bering Sea) and lower than near Unalaska Island (Pacific ocean) due to differences in water temperature of these sites.