Red King Crab

Photo: hannahrjp · CC BY-NC

Originally introduced to the Barents Sea during Soviet-era research programmes, red king crabs have marched steadily southward along the Norwegian coast and now populate the Lofoten fjords in great numbers. They are voracious omnivores that reshape benthic communities wherever they settle, but for divers they are a spectacular sight — adults can span over a metre leg-to-leg. Juveniles cluster in dense aggregations under kelp holdfasts while large adults prowl the open seabed at night.