It has been found to be the dominant invertebrate species taken with trawl gear in the 275-650 fm depth range. Life History Reproduction Reproduction in the Tanner crab is not well documented.
Adult males migrate to deeper waters in the fall and winter, presumably for mating.
Tanner crabs are probably polygamous - a crab will mate with more than one individual. Larvae are planktonic near the sea surface for approximately of 80 days. During this planktonic phase, surface currents are mostly directed offshore. Consequently, when the larvae settle to the bottom, they are distributed at greater depths. Young crab then migrate to shallower depths as growth proceeds.