Washington Looks to Update Dungeness Crab Policy to Address Entanglements, Climate Change

As part of the three West Coast states’ efforts to further limit potential entanglements and more easily identify entangled whales, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is updating its policies related to crabbing.

The public is invited to review and submit comments on the draft Coastal Dungeness Crab policy through Oct. 15. 

Dungeness crabs support Washington’s most valuable commercial fishery, as well as popular recreational fisheries. The value of state landings for the 2023-24 coastal commercial Dungeness crab season was $66.8 million, according to ...

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Approves New Dungeness Crab Rules to Reduce Entanglements

In an effort to reduce whale entanglements in the Dungeness crab fishery, crabbers will be subject to new rules – but not until the 2026-2027 season.

The Oregon Fisha and Wildlife Commission, when it met earlier this month, adopted new line-marking recommendations for the crab fishery so managers can more easily determine which state’s fishery was responsible for any entangled whale.

Across the West Coast, line marking has been identified as a key method for improving identification of gear involved in ...

You Otter See This: Feds Publish Summary Report of Communities’ Comments Regarding Sea Otters

More than one year and 26 pages later, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has summarized the concerns and comments from Oregon and California communities as they pertain to potential sea otter reintroduction.

The report, which was shared widely with several community leaders ahead of it going live on the USFWS website today, is short, but highlights general concerns and comments (several appendices include more detailed information). The sea otters’ potential impact to commercial crab and sea urchin fisheries ranked high on the attendees’ list of...

China Section 301: USTR Issues Update on Alaskan Sole, Crab Products

On Friday the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a further extension of certain exclusions in the Section 301 Investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. The decision came just days before the exclusions were scheduled to expire on May 31, 2024.

The China tariffs were launched in 2018 and 2019 by then-President Donald Trump in an effort to stop the country’s unfair trade practices. As Seafoodnews reported at the time, the...

ANALYSIS: Dungeness Clusters 23 Percent Higher Than Same Time Last Year

The market for Dungeness ocean-run clusters has been moving higher over the past 5-weeks and higher offers are also noted to kick off February. Supplies have been tight ahead of the new season and with delays to fisheries, inventories are reported to be thin. Clusters have moved up 14 percent since the beginning of 2024. In addition, as compared to last year at the same time, the market is also 23 percent higher.

However, in comparison to the 5-year average...

CDFW Opens Commercial Dungeness Fishery in Central California on Jan. 18

Central California crabbers will have the chance to go fishing after all. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham on Thursday announced the Dungeness season opening on Jan. 18 for Zones 3-6, from the Mendocino/Sonoma county line south to the California border with Mexico. Crab gear reductions will be in place.

Meanwhile, news outlets like the Eureka Times Standard reported fishermen ...

Pick Your Spot, Set your Gear, Harvest Your Dungeness from Newly Opened Areas

Thanks to whales moving on and improved meat quality rates, more areas outside of Southern Oregon will open for the harvest of Dungeness crab. The dates and areas may result in some confusion but it will allow consistent landings of crab to the market.

In California, the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife and CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham announced Wednesday the commercial fishery will open in Zones 1 and 2 - from the Oregon border to the Mendocino/Sonoma county line - at ...

USCG Urges Crabbers to Take Safety Precautions Ahead of Dungeness Season

Dungeness crab season is just around the corner in most of Oregon -- if fishermen and buyers can reach price agreements -- and the U.S. Coast Guard is hoping crabbers take time to do some vessel safety pre-checks.

In the past, the start of Dungeness season is historically followed by a spike in search and rescue cases involving commercial fishing vessels, according to the USCG.

Most major marine casualties involving the loss of life or loss of a vessel occurs during...

West Coast Dungeness Crab Quality Improving; Opening Date Still Unclear

All three states released the latest round of Dungeness crab meat recovery results on Friday and while the numbers are improving, some areas -- primarily in northern Oregon and Washington -- are close but don't quite meet the threshold.

Long beach, in Washington, increased from 18.4% to 19.4%, but is still shy of the 23% level necessary to open the season. Similarly, Astoria, Oregon, went up from 18.9% to 21.1 percent. Garibaldi met the 23% requirement, but the Newport North area, which must meet the higher threshold of 24%, was ...

Dungeness Crab Testing Yields Mixed Results Ahead of Winter Seasons

It seems Dungeness crab season openings are always a roller coaster ride these days. You never know when or if the stars -- that trio of meat quality, no biotoxins and no whales -- will align along the whole coast for season openings that adhere to traditional dates (November 15 for Central California; December 1 for northern California, Oregon and Washington).

This year is no different. The Central California season was already delayed once due to whales hanging out in nearshore areas. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director will ...

Another West Coast Whale Entanglement Reported; States Prepare for Rule Changes

Another humpback whale off Southern Oregon was reported last week, entangled in commercial crab gear from different states, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a fleet advisory notice.

It was the third humpback entanglement attributed by the National Marine Fisheries Service to Oregon commercial crab gear this year.

“Researchers have observed aggregations of humpback whales, primarily in around 55-70 fathoms (100-130 m), but with some whales closer to shore. Blue whales were also observed in waters shallower than 70 fathoms,” the notice ...

Crabfest May Be Back At Red Lobster, But It’s Not The Same As Years Past

Even a bankruptcy filing can’t stop Red Lobster from bringing back Crabfest. The financially embroiled restaurant chain — with the help of rapper and reality TV star Flavor Flav — used the guest-favorite dining event to remind fans that despite the Chapter 11 bankruptcy, they can still enjoy seafood from their local Red Lobster. But this isn’t the same Crabfest as years past.

Red Lobster is known for its limited time promotional events, from Lobsterfest to Summerfest and...

Spring, Summer Dungeness Fisheries Face Closures, Restrictions to Reduce Entanglement Risk

In a little more than a week, most of California will close to Dungeness crabbing. Fishermen will have until 6 p.m. on Monday, April 8, to get their gear out of the water for this year's season. Crabbers in Oregon and Washington, too, will face seasonal restrictions

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham assessed whale entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program. The latest data from aerial and vessel surveys showed humpback whale numbers are increasing. Bonham therefore decided the changes will take effect ...

Ilwaco, Wash., Seafood Processing Facility Lost to Fire; Crab Pots Lost Too

A horrific fire that destroyed buildings, docks and crab pots Monday in the small port of Ilwaco, Wash., also necessitated firefighters seek medical help and emergency officials to recommend residents stay inside.

The Chinook Observer newspaper provided updates in the afternoon of the fire that broke out around 11 a.m. and quickly spread throughout the Ilwaco Landing facility.

Nobody was hurt, the newspaper reported shortly after noon.

"The cause is undetermined as of 12:15 p.m. Monday, however wax-lined packaging materials ...

Northern Oregon, Southern Washington to Open Feb. 1 for Dungeness Season

Finally! After several rounds of testing, the Columbia River area and Southern Washington areas have crab with quality sufficient to open the season. Or, they likely will have crab sufficient to open the season by Feb. 1.

The final round of testing showed areas north of Cape Falcon, in Oregon, had crab that met the quality tests: 23.9%. The southern Washington area was almost there, at 22% (the threshold is 23%). The additional time will ...

Oregon Docks Busy Loading Crab Gear for Dungeness Season as Fishermen Share Price Info Online

With less than a day to go before crabbers can start hauling their Dungeness crab gear, many Oregon ports have been busy loading gear onto vessels for deployment.

In the check-off list of things to do before the season starts, fishermen counted negotiating crab prices with processors as one of the top things to do before taking the gear to sea.

The formal "dump day," or 73-hour pre-soak time, for crabbers fishing between Cape Foulweather, ...

Whales, Turtle Further Delay California Crab Season

Pots are on the dock and ready to be put on vessels to fish for Dungeness, but California-permitted crabbers have no place to put their gear yet. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham on Thursday declared a continued delay of the commercial season due to whales and sea turtle entanglement risk.

The assessment this week included the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group reviewing the Department's preliminary assessment. According to the Working Group report, one proposal received only limited support ...

Whales, Meat Recovery Hamper Efforts to Open Dungeness Season on West Coast

Crab for Christmas? Maybe. Crab For Thanksgiving? Not likely -- at least, not in the quantities to satisfy California customers formerly used to traditional Thanksgiving dining fare.

Fisheries managers from Washington, Oregon and California talked Friday and agreed to delay the opening of the 2023-24 Coastal Dungeness crab fishery from Point Area, California, north to the US/Canada border through at least December 15, according to an industry notice from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"This decision was based on crab condition tests conducted by WDFW, ...

It's Almost November and that Means Dungeness Crab! Or Not

The "traditional" November 15 crab season opening in Central California is becoming a thing of the past. The state announced a season delay on Friday, due to whales in the area.

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line was scheduled to open on Nov. 15, 2023 in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a press release. However, the season opener has been delayed in those zones due to presence of high ...