Despite these concerns, the species is protected by diplomatic accords between Norway and Russia as part of a fisheries agreement between Norway and Russia about the Barents Sea, and a bilateral fishing commission decides how to manage the stocks and imposes fishing quotas. West of the North Cape on Norway's northern tip, Norway manages its crab population itself. As at May 2006, only 259 Norwegian fishermen were allowed to catch it east of the North Cape, and they see the king crab as a blessing, as it is a revenue source.