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text| @蛋仔AI
Edit| Wu Gang
King crab, the name sounds awe-inspiring. Its true face is far more majestic and terrifying than people think.
King crabs are not real crabs
First of all, the king crab is not a real crab, but a deep-sea crustacean. They are clearly distinguished from ordinary crabs. King crabs are huge, up to 0.3 meters in size and weigh more than 10 kilograms. This makes them the hegemony of the marine world.
King crabs live at a depth of 850 meters in the Arctic Ocean and are extremely harsh, but they are still predators at the top of the food chain. They feed on other small marine organisms, maintaining the balance of the seabed ecosystem. However, in recent years, the invasion and expansion of king crabs has attracted worldwide attention.
Originally, the king crab production area was mainly located at the junction of the North Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. However, due to the accidental entry of ships, they managed to invade the Barents Sea and became an alien species. King crab populations have skyrocketed, severely disrupting the balance of the food chain in the Barents Sea. They feed on native organisms, leading to a drastic decline in the numbers of some species. All this raises concerns about its ability to invade.
More worryingly, king crabs are also expanding in Antarctica. Scientists speculate that they may have taken a boat ride to Antarctica by "hitchhiking." And this poses a threat to Antarctica's ecosystem. Antarctica is one of the last relatively pristine regions in the world, and protecting its ecosystem is critical. However, the invasion of king crabs could disrupt the ecological balance of Antarctica, threatening the survival of local species.
The invasion of king crab not only has an impact on the environment, but also causes certain economic losses to human society. In Norway, the king crab flood has caused serious damage to the environment. They prey on native resources such as sturgeon, leading to extinction of flora and fauna. This has had a huge impact on Norway's fishing industry and ecosystem, severely affecting the lives of local residents.
In addition to the environmental and economic impacts, the king crab invasion has raised concerns about food security. King crab meat is a delicious seafood that is loved by people. However, the limited supply of king crab and difficult fishing conditions have led to high prices. Every king crab eaten comes at a higher price.
How to respond to the invasion and expansion of king crabs
Catching king crab is a dangerous and difficult task. To catch these giant crustaceans, fishermen need to trap them using large steel crab cages. This is a high-risk job that only brave and skilled fishermen can do.
Shipping king crab to consumers is also a challenge. King crab meat has a small ratio to shell and cannot be kept fresh after leaving seawater, so it needs to be frozen and airlifted. However, the high cost of the cold chain along the transport chain, and the Norwegian government's restrictions on the number of king crab catches, have led to a scarcity of supply. This is one of the reasons why the price of king crab remains high.
Although eating king crab can help control its overbreeding, large-scale fishing is nearly impossible. Due to the dangers and hardships of the fishing process, the price of king crab remains high. However, we cannot take this invasive species lightly simply because it is expensive.
The impact of king crab invasion and expansion on the environment and ecosystems requires our attention and response. Protecting Antarctica's ecosystems and species diversity is critical and requires the international community to work together. Every king crab eaten is protecting our world, and everyone can contribute to environmental protection. Let us work together to protect this beautiful and fragile planet.