Dispersion and assessment of possible distribution of snow crab opilio (Chionoecetes opilio) in the Barents Sea

The article describes the dispersion dynamics of snow crab opilio in the Barents Sea from 1996 to 2014 and the factors influencing its acclimatization. On the basis of spacial distribution modeling, it is stated that the area of occurrence has increased 10 times for the research period and currently the habitat of snow crab opilio in the Barents Sea occupies 34% of the sea area. The main factor, limiting further distribution of snow crab could become the bottom temperature in the South East of the Barents Sea. However, the potential of further crab distribution in the sea is still rather high. The prognostic estimation shows that the habitat could double with north-western areas of the Barents Sea and coastal areas of the Svalbard archipelago