The genus name is derived from Latin opilio "sheep-master" (a kind of slave), used by Plautus, also used by Virgil with the meaning "shepherd".
Fishing for opilio (and rarely bairdi) crab has been the focus of the second half of all four seasons of Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel.
In 2005 for King Crab and 2006 for Opilio The Northwestern won the final derby seasons taking home the titles for both the highest poundage caught and the highest dollars earned between the featured boats in the Deadliest Catch.