Crab Mutations in Alaska

Anchorage Daily News, July 12, 2014 : Alaska The crab’s shell was a deep periwinkle, likely the result of a naturally occurring genetic mutation, Kent said. The rare discovery thrilled Norton Sound fishery managers and biologists in the Northwest Alaska city. [...] Justin Noffsker [assistant plant manager at the Norton Sound Seafood Center] said he’s never seen anything like this [...] In his 11 years with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Kent had never seen a blue red king crab either [...] In September, during a pot survey in Cape Nome, Kent saw his first white red king crab, another rare coloration believed to be caused by a genetic mutation. He has also recently seen piebald crabs, spotted with irregular patches of white. Another had a red carapace but yellow legs. All the variations are considered to be the kind of “normal, random, very rare” mutations that occur within animal populations, Kent said. The environment and the crab’s diet could play a role, he said, but he doubts it. [...] In January, wholesalers in Hokkaido, Japan, found [a blue-colored red king crab] in a Russian shipment. Read more...