Could Deadliest Catch be sailing into its last season? The 21st season of the Discovery Channel reality series premieres Friday, August 1. Once again, it follows determined fishermen as they hunt for crab in the Bering Sea. But changing conditions and depleted fisheries might put the show’s future at risk.

‘Deadliest Catch’ Season 21 premieres August 1 

Deadliest Catch Season 21 kicks off on August 1. The new episodes follows the Dutch Harbor fleet as they embark on a gold rush-style race to find monster king crab in the far west of the Bering Sea. 

Longtime cast members – including Jake Anderson and Sig Hansen – want to claim their share of the billion-dollar bounty, Discovery teases in its description of the season. But to do so, they’ll have to brave unforgiving seas on their way to Adak Island, which is located further west than they’ve ever sailed and is “beyond the bounds of rescue.” 

“Navigating through unfamiliar territory to secure the lucrative haul, the crews face extreme conditions and major ship malfunctions that put them in serious life-threatening situations, leaving the fleet at the mercy of the tumultuous western Bering Sea,” the synopsis continues. 

In a teaser for the new season, Anderson receives a call on the radio telling him to abandon ship. 

“One moment is heaven, the next moment, hell,” another captain says. 

What’s next for ‘Deadliest Catch’?

The stakes are higher than ever in the new season of Deadliest Catch. And the extreme conditions could make for good TV. The teaser hints at the cast enduring medical emergencies, terrifying waves, an on-board fire, and other struggles on their quest for a big payday. Those dramatic storylines aren’t just made-for-TV. They “reflect real and escalating tensions in the Bering Sea crab industry,” notes fishing industry news outlet National Fisherman. 

In recent years, several crab fisheries in Alaska have been closed because of low stock levels. While some fisheries have reopened as numbers of crab have rebounded, the future overall is uncertain. In the case of snow crab, an “ecological shift” is to blame for the decline in populations, according to a 2024 report from NOAA. If warming conditions continue, it could “signal the northward displacement of the important commercial fishery from its traditional grounds.” 

In the past, Deadliest Catch producers have said that the closure of some fisheries wouldn’t affect the show. Instead, they focused would just shift as the cast “participate[s] in other sustainable Bering Sea crab and pot fisheries,” a producer told Deadline in 2022. But if conditions continue to worsen for crab fisherman, that may become more difficult to pull off. 

“While this new season may deliver the usual television drama, the stakes behind the scenes are very real, reflecting an industry grappling with closures, climate uncertainties, and limited paths forward,” notes National Fisherman. 

Another risk for Deadliest Catch? Changes in the entertainment industry. The series, which premiered in 2005, has had an unusually long run for a non-competition reality show. But some fans have complained of stale storylines and what they see as scripted conflicts. If viewer interest seriously wanes, the network could decide to end the series. Warner Bros. Discovery also recently announced that it was spinning off its cable networks, including Discovery Channel, into a separate company. While the consequences of that change remain to be seen, there’s a possibility it could result in some shows being canceled as a cost-cutting move.

Deadliest Catch Season 21 premieres Friday, August 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel. Episodes also stream on HBO Max.    

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