According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, crab samples for domoic acid testing collected as of Friday, January 18th, indicate crab viscera is elevated above threshold again in the crabbing area from Gold Beach to the CA/OR border.
Recent domoic acid testing in California have indicated their two most northern areas, Crescent City and Trinidad North, are all below alert levels for a second consecutive test. The CDPH (responsible for public health safeguards for CA) has recommended opening crab fishing in the Crescent City and Trinidad North area, adjacent to the CA/OR border.
After consultation with CDFW and Oregon’s crab industry advisors, southern Oregon and northern California will open to commercial crabbing on different dates, with northern California opening first.
The area from Cape Arago down to the California border will open on Feb 1 and fair start provisions will apply across the OR/CA border, however, the area from Cape Blanco to the California border will most likely only open on an acceptable domoic acid testing evisceration requirement.
Officials are prioritizing getting domoic acid sampling completed from Gold Beach to the California border (area L) over the next two weeks and testing in crab areas from Cape Blanco to the Oregon/California border will continue for the foreseeable future, including after the season opens.
Please Like, Share and Follow the …
