Oregon sees crab, Chinook boom

The Oregon Natural Resources Report - Agricultural News from Oregon

September 9, 2010

Oregon sees crab, Chinook boom
By Oregon Small Business Association

Oregon’s ocean waters are producing a bounty of Dungeness crab and fall Chinook salmon. Crabbing recorded the third-largest season in history, in terms of a dollar figure. Fall-run Chinook are estimated at 245,000, which are many more than seen in the past three years

Crabbers brought in more than 23 million pounds in the past eight and a half months. That’s the fourth time in the past decade that landings have exceeded 20 million pounds and are expected to close out the month with 25 million pounds.

The economic bounty is welcomed. The crab so far adds up to $44.5 million to the fishermen and the economic impact doubles to an estimated $90 million for Oregon’s coastal communities. Next year’s season is predicted to be similar.

For the first time in three years, commercial and sport fishermen will be allowed to catch Chinook salmon all along the Oregon coast under a fishing plan approved by a federal panel. The prospect for improved salmon seasons comes after federal biologists predicted more fall-run Chinook will return to the Sacramento River and its tributaries this year.

These Sacramento fall Chinook provide the bulk of Oregon’s ocean catch. Oregon’s northern Oregon coast is dominated by the Sacramento run.