snow crab

noun

: any of several long-legged crabs (genus Chionoecetes, especially C. opilio and C. bairdi) of the eastern north Pacific Ocean and especially Alaska and the western north Atlantic Ocean that are used for food

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web For Bering Sea snow crab, which in 2021 dwindled to the lowest abundance of adults observed in the 50-year record, the crash took multiple steps. Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Feb. 2023 For the first time, the winter snow crab season has been scuttled. Hal Bernton, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Dec. 2022 An article on Sunday about the cancellation of snow crab season in Alaska this year referred incorrectly to the executive director of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers. New York Times, 18 Oct. 2022 The bill includes $300 million for federal fishery disaster assistance, funding that the Alaska congressional delegation said the state’s fisheries, like the Bering Sea king and snow crab fisheries, sorely need. Riley Rogerson, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Dec. 2022 As the news spread, officials in Alaska canceled the official fishing seasons for both king crab and snow crab. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 8 Nov. 2022 But Sackton and Enlow said the seafood industry has been hesitant to invest in marketing Alaska tanner crab — and distinguishing it from snow crab — because quota numbers are so inconsistent. Nathaniel Herz, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Jan. 2023 In the case before the Supreme Court, the Latvian company claims it is entitled to catch snow crab in an extended area of ocean around Svalbard under an EU license but without permission from Norway. Laura Paddison, CNN, 27 Jan. 2023 The federal scientists who track Bering Sea harvests say there’s no way the trawl fleet could have caused the epic crash in snow crab. Nathaniel Herz, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'snow crab.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snow crab was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near snow crab

Cite this Entry

“Snow crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snow%20crab. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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