Seattle photojournalist Karen Ducey | multimedia, news, editorial, and documentary photographer

DOCUMENTARY: Bering Sea Crab: polar lady

Steadying themselves on the pitching, water-sloshed deck, two crewmen from the Polar Lady move a sorting table loaded with Opilio crab. In January and February crabbers fish for “Opies” or snow crabs—smaller cousins of king crabs—with 700-pound (315.5-kilogram) crab pots. Even as the boats battle 30-foot (9-meter) waves and heavy gales the crew must hoist, stack, move, and empty pots. The work is tedious, and crabbers always run the risk of being hit suddenly by a swinging or falling crab pot. © Karen Ducey
polar lady
Steadying themselves on the pitching, water-sloshed deck, two crewmen from the Polar Lady move a sorting table loaded with Opilio crab. In January and February crabbers fish for “Opies” or snow crabs—smaller cousins of king crabs—with 700-pound (315.5-kilogram) crab pots. Even as the boats battle 30-foot (9-meter) waves and heavy gales the crew must hoist, stack, move, and empty pots. The work is tedious, and crabbers always run the risk of being hit suddenly by a swinging or falling crab pot. © Karen Ducey