"All These Fit in a House?"... Captain Caught Hiding 2,000 Female Snow Crabs

Over 2,000 Female Snow Crabs Illegally Stored in Pohang
Unlike Males, Female Snow Crab Catching is Banned Year-Round

Illegal captured female snow crab in a residential warehouse aquarium. Pohang Coast Guard Station

The captain of a fishing vessel and others who secretly stored thousands of illegally captured female snow crabs have been apprehended by the Coast Guard.

The Pohang Coast Guard Station announced on October 8 that it is investigating two individuals, including Mr. A (a man in his 50s), the captain of the fishing vessel, on charges of violating the Fisheries Resources Management Act. They are accused of loading 155 female snow crabs onto a 1-ton truck at a port in Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang, at around 10:09 p.m. on October 5, transporting them to their residence, and transferring them to an aquarium. They are also suspected of secretly storing a total of 2,165 female snow crabs in two aquariums at their residence.

The Pohang Coast Guard received intelligence that Mr. A was transporting female snow crabs by truck and apprehended the suspects after spotting the suspicious vehicle while patrolling the area. All of the confiscated female snow crabs were released back into the sea off Guryongpo using the Guryongpo Police Substation’s coastal rescue boat.

Illegal captured female snow crab in a residential warehouse aquarium. Pohang Coast Guard Station

Snow crab fishing is prohibited for six months, from June 1 to November 30. In particular, considering the ecological characteristic that it takes seven to eight years for snow crabs to mature to the point where they can spawn, the capture of female snow crabs is banned year-round. Under the Fisheries Resources Management Act, the capture, distribution, storage, or sale of female snow crabs is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.