Oregon Fish and Wildlife initially had a targeted opening date of Dec. 1, but that was delayed after pre-season tests showed crabs had too little meat yield as well as elevated levels of domoic acid, a toxin produced by algae.
The state agency says commercial crabbers can begin fishing between Cape Arago near Coos Bay up to Cape Falcon near Cannon Beach, since all crabs tested within that region have passed meat and biotoxin tests. The season will open from Cape Falcon up to Washington state on Feb. 1. .
Crab testing for domoic acid will continue from Cape Arago south to the California border, because recent results showed elevated levels of the biotoxin in that area. There鈥檚 also a.
Domoic acid is produced by 鈥渂looms鈥� of certain types of marine algae. It can be harmful or even fatal to eat shellfish with high levels of domoic acid.
In a press release, the agency said commercial crabbers generally supported delaying the season, because it ensured customers would get the best Oregon crabs. It also prevented wasting crabs that yielded too little meat.
鈥淟ook, everyone wants to start Dec. 1,鈥� said Tim Novotny of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission. 鈥淏ut the fishermen know that this process sets a high bar on purpose, so consumers know they鈥檙e getting the highest quality and safest product possible,鈥� he said.
The earliest the commercial crab season can open by state regulation is Dec. 1, depending on the outcome of crab meat and biotoxin test results. The season has rarely opened on that date in recent years: 2021 was the first time since 2014 the fishery opened Dec. 1.
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