[5]Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed
Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife [6]
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today that the opening of the ocean commercial Dungeness crab season in Oregon will be delayed through Dec. 30.
The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season along the Oregon coast normally opens on Dec. 1, but can be delayed to ensure a high-quality product to consumers and avoid wastage of the resource. Coast-wide crab quality testing showed some test areas did not meet minimum preseason test criteria. Fishery managers met today and decided to further delay the opening through Dec. 30 to allow crab quality to improve.
In Oregon, crabbers will be allowed to begin setting their gear in the ocean for a gear pre-soaking period starting at 8:01 a.m. on Dec. 28 and start harvesting crab at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 31.
Recreational harvest of crab in the ocean and in Oregon’s bays will remain open.