Commercial Crab Season Delayed Again

In partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, the first round of Oregon preseason Dungeness crab quality and domoic acid testing was conducted coast-wide during November 5-9.

The minimum meat recovery rates to be met in the majority of test areas have not met meat recovery criteria. Therefore, based on these results and consultations with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Washington and California Departments of Fish and Wildlife, the ocean commercial Dungeness crab season has again been delayed along the entire Oregon coast.

This delay is to allow completion of additional testing for meat quality and domoic acid in order to provide confidence that crab harvested from Oregon waters are of highest quality, and safe to consume.

In addition, crab closures are currently in effect from Cape Blanco to the California border due to elevated levels of domoic acid. This closure applies to both recreationally and commercially harvested crab from bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties. Recreational crab harvesting outside of these areas remains open in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties.

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